[Experience of applying updated STOPP/START criteria in gerontopsychiatric practice.]

The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of polypharmacy, prescribing of potentially inappropriate medication (STOPP criteria), and potential prescribing omissions (START criteria) in 56 elderly psychiatric inpatients. The analysis of prevalence was conducted using the STOPP/START version 3 criteria, and the degree of anticholinergic burden was assessed using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale. Polypharmacy was observed in 67.86% of patients, 75 prescriptions of potentially inappropriate medications and 156 cases of potential prescribing omissions were identified. The highest frequency was observed for STOPP criteria related to the use of medications with anticholinergic properties. The median anticholinergic burden score was 2.5 [0.0; 6.0]. The START criteria with the highest frequency were related to recommendations for pharmacotherapy of comorbid somatic conditions, mainly the prescription of statins and antiplatelet agents in patients with vascular diseases. The study demonstrated a moderate frequency of STOPP criteria and a high frequency of START criteria. The application of the updated STOPP/START criteria in psychiatric care should contribute to improving the effectiveness and safety of pharmacotherapy.