Polypharmacy in psychiatry: update and future trends.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Psychiatry
• Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

• Psychoactive drug combinations are a subject of ongoing debate.
• The term "polypharmacy" has been criticized but spurred useful research into combined drug use.
• Previous reviews in the early 1980s established foundational knowledge in this area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To update the scientific literature on rational psychoactive drug combinations since the early 1980s.
• To identify and discuss common challenges encountered in surveys of combined drug use.
• To propose future research directions for more rational investigations into drug combinations.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of studies published after the major reviews of the early 1980s.
• Critical analysis of methodologies used in surveys of combined drug use.
• Identification of common pitfalls in survey design and execution.

Main Results:

• Several psychoactive drug-drug combinations have demonstrated rationality.
• Common pitfalls in survey methodologies for assessing combined drug use were identified.
• The paper provides an updated perspective on the field since the 1980s.

Conclusions:

• Further research is needed to establish rational psychoactive drug combinations.
• Methodological improvements in surveys are crucial for accurate data collection.
• Future studies should focus on evidence-based approaches rather than relying on the term "polypharmacy".