[Study of the use of atypical antipsychotic drugs in Málaga Prison]

we studied the use of psychotropic drugs belonging to the group of atypical neuroleptics in Malaga State Prison (Centro Penitenciario de Málaga) from 2003 to 2004. We also compared the results of this study with references taken from the Primary Health Care District of Guadalhorce.

A retrospective study was carried out on the use of antipsychotic drugs from 2003 to 2004 in Malaga State Prison. A comparison was then made with the use of this type of medication in the Primary Health Care District of Guadalhorce. Data on medication consumption was taken from medical orders received at the prison during this study. The ATC (Anatomical Therapeutic and Chemical Classifying System) was used for classifying the active principles. The prison´s own data base (SANIT) was used for calculating the number of containers. For calculating the DDD, the ratio DDD/1000 inmates/day was utilised.

The use of atypical antipsychotic medication in the prison increased. There is an increasing trend towards the use of quetiapine in small doses. The use of risperidone went down during the period of this study, although it is still the most commonly used drug in DDD and in consumed containers. The Primary Health care results indicate a trend in the opposite direction.

The use of the group of drugs in this study has decreased in the Primary Health Care area, possibly because of special medical control measures such as the control stamp. In Malaga Prison use of these drugs has increased. The reasons for this difference are as yet unknown.