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[Off-label prescriptions in acute psychiatry: a practice-based evaluation].
Tijdschrift Voor Psychiatrie
|April 19, 2013
Summary
Off-label medication is common in acute psychiatry, with 41% of prescriptions in one emergency service being off-label, primarily for antipsychotics and benzodiazepines to manage aggression, agitation, and sleep issues.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Context:
- Off-label medication use is prevalent in acute psychiatric settings.
- Literature review reveals limited data on off-label prescribing in acute psychiatry specifically.
Purpose:
- To identify indications for off-label prescriptions in psychiatric literature.
- To assess the utilization of off-label medications within an acute psychiatric emergency service.
Summary:
- A systematic literature search and patient record evaluation were conducted.
- 41% of medications prescribed during initial emergency psychiatric contacts were off-label, mainly antipsychotics and benzodiazepines for aggression, agitation, and sleep disturbances.
- Broader interpretations of off-label use yielded varying percentages, highlighting the need for clear documentation.
Impact:
- Findings underscore the frequent use of off-label medications in acute psychiatric care.
- Recommendations include clear documentation of off-label prescription rationale and the development of new medical guidelines.
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