Conventional and Atypical Antipsychotics in the Elderly

Evaluation of prescribing patterns of sodium valproate in neurological disease patients: a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design study

BACKGROUND

The well-known anti-seizure medication, sodium valproate, is used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine how pharmacist counseling intervention affected the prescribing patterns and usage of sodium valproate in patients with neurological diseases.

METHODS

Patient prescriptions were analyzed in a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design research, at baseline and after three months of pharmacy educational intervention. Medical history, drug-drug interactions, antipsychotic combinations, medication errors, and dosages were among the information gathered.

RESULTS

The reviewed prescriptions observed trend towards antipsychotic combination, 15 (2.5%) prescriptions had five medications, while 18 (3%) contained four, 169 (28.2%) containing three, 329 (54.8%) containing two, and 69 (11.5%) containing one, antipsychotic. Of the reviewed prescriptions, 6% had possible drug-drug interactions. However, following a 3-month pharmacy educational intervention, the tendency toward antipsychotic combination decreased significantly to 262 (52%) with prescriptions for 2 antipsychotics and 163 (32.3%) with 3 antipsychotics. Likewise, the decreases in medication errors related to frequency and dosage were 8 (1.6%) vs. 29 (4.8%) and 6 (1.2%) vs. 35 (5.8%), compared to baseline respectively. Additionally, medication adherence was raised significantly (p < 0.000) from 50 (8.3%) to 338 (67.1%) after the intervention.

CONCLUSION

More precise regulations should be placed on sodium valproate prescription patterns and usage, throughout implemented pharmacist initiative in patients counselling, provision of health education and therapeutic monitoring to improve health-related quality of life.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered on clinicaltrial.gov with an identification code NCT05830981. https://classic.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov/ct2/show/NCT05830981 (First Posted: April 26, 2023).

Extrapyramidal Side Effects with Chronic Atypical Antipsychotic Can Be Predicted by Labeling Pattern of FosB and phosphoThr34-DARPP-32 in Nucleus Accumbens

Extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) can be induced by neuroleptics that regulate the expression of transcription factor FosB and dopaminergic mediator DARPP-32 in the striatum. However, the long-term neurobiological changes in striatal projection neurons resulting from a cumulative dosage of typical and atypical antipsychotics are poorly understood. The present study aimed to determine the differential and long-lasting changes in FosB distribution and DARPP-32 phosphorylation in the striatum and nucleus accumbens (NAc) associated with chronic antipsychotic-induced EPS. Male C57Bl/6J mice received daily injections of Olanzapine (Olz, 15 mg/kg), Clozapine (Clz, 20 mg/kg), or Haloperidol (Hal, 1 mg/kg), for a period of 11 weeks with a 4-day withdrawal period before the last dosage. Catalepsy for detection of EPS, along with open-field and rotarod tests, were assessed as behavioral correlates of motor responses. Additionally, FosB and phosphorylated-DARPP-32 immunohistochemistry were examined in striatal regions after treatment. All antipsychotics produced catalepsy and reduced open-field exploration, such as impaired rota-rod performance after Olz and Hal. The washout period was critical for Clz-induced side effects reduction. Both Olz and Clz increased FosB in NAc Shell-region, and phosphoThr34-DARPP-32 in NAc. Only Clz reduced phosphoThr75-DARPP-32 in the dorsal striatum and showed FosB/phosphoThr34-Darpp-32-ir in the NAc Core region. This study provides evidence that atypical antipsychotics such as Olz and Clz also give rise to EPS effects frequently associated with a cumulative dosage of typical neuroleptics such as Hal. Nevertheless, FosB/phosphoThr34-Darpp-32-ir in the NAc Core region is associated with hypokinetic movements inhibition.

Valproate-related neutropenia and lithium-related leukocytosis in patients treated with clozapine: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Neutropenia is a noteworthy side effect of clozapine, which might warrant this drugs' discontinuance for safety. Studies have revealed that the risk of neutropenia increases with concurrent administration of valproate, but the evidence was limited. Conversely, lithium may have an ameliorating effect on clozapine-induced neutropenia. This study explored the effects of valproate and lithium on white blood cell counts in patients treated with clozapine.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated the electronic medical records from one tertiary psychiatric hospital in Taiwan and enrolled patients discharged between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2017, with clozapine prescriptions. We scrutinized their demographic data, medications, and hematological results at discharge and during follow-up outpatient clinic visits over the subsequent 3 years. Patients were classified into four groups: clozapine only (CLO), clozapine and valproate (CLO + VAL), clozapine and lithium (CLO + Li), and clozapine, valproate, and lithium (CLO + VAL + Li). We also identified hematological events (neutropenia or leukocytosis) of these patients during outpatient follow-ups.

RESULTS

Of the included 1084 patients, 55(5.1%) developed neutropenia. Concurrent valproate use (odds ratio [OR] = 3.49) and older age (p = .007) were identified as risk factors. Moreover, 453 (41.79%) patients developed leukocytosis. Younger age; male sex; and concurrent use of lithium (OR = 3.39, p < .001), clozapine daily dosage, and benzodiazepines were the risk factors for leukocytosis.

CONCLUSION

Concurrent valproate use and older age are associated with the development of neutropenia in patients treated with clozapine. Concurrent lithium usage, younger age, male sex, and concurrent benzodiazepine use might be related to leukocytosis.

Mechanisms underpinning Carpolobia lutea G. Don ethanol extract's neurorestorative and antipsychotic-like activities in an NMDA receptor antagonist model of schizophrenia

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Persistent ketamine insults to the central nervous system block NMDA receptors and disrupt putative neurotransmission, oxido-nitrosative, and inflammatory pathways, resulting in schizophrenia-like symptoms in animals. Previously, the ethnomedicinal benefits of Carpolobia lutea against insomnia, migraine headache, and insanity has been documented, but the mechanisms of action remain incomplete.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Presently, we explored the neuro-therapeutic role of Carpolobia lutea ethanol extract (C. lutea) in ketamine-induced schizophrenia-like symptoms in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty-four male Swiss (22 ± 2 g) mice were randomly assigned into eight groups (n = 8/group) and exposed to a reversal ketamine model of schizophrenia. For 14 days, either distilled water (10 mL/kg; p.o.) or ketamine (20 mg/kg; i.p.) was administered, following possible reversal treatments with C. lutea (100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg; p.o.), haloperidol (1 mg/kg, p.o.), or clozapine (5 mg/kg; p.o.) beginning on days 8-14. During the experiment, a battery of behavioral characterizations defining schizophrenia-like symptoms were obtained using ANY-maze software, followed by neurochemical, oxido-inflammatory and histological assessments in the mice brains.

RESULTS

A 7-day reversal treatment with C. lutea reversed predictors of positive, negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. C. lutea also mitigated ketamine-induced neurochemical derangements as evidenced by modulations of dopamine, glutamate, norepinephrine and serotonin neurotransmission. Also, the increased acetylcholinesterase activity, malondialdehyde nitrite, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis-factor-α concentrations were reversed by C. lutea accompanied with elevated levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione. Furthermore, C. lutea reversed ketamine-induced neuronal alterations in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum sections of the brain.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that C. lutea reverses the cardinal symptoms of ketamine-induced schizophrenia in a dose-dependent fashion by modulating the oxido-inflammatory and neurotransmitter-related mechanisms.

Use of Central Nervous System (CNS) Medicines in Aged Care Homes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Both old age and institutionalization in aged care homes come with a significant risk of developing several long-term mental and neurological disorders, but there has been no definitive meta-analysis of data from studies to determine the pooled estimate of central nervous system (CNS) medicines use in aged care homes. We conducted this systematic review to summarize the use of CNS drugs among aged care homes residents.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA) databases were searched (between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2018) to identify population-based studies that reported the use of CNS medicines in aged care homes. Pooled proportions (with 95% confidence interval), according to study location were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 89 studies reported the use of CNS medicines use in aged care. The pooled estimate of CNS drugs use varied according to country (from 20.3% in Ireland to 49.0% in Belgium) and region (from 31.7% in North America to 42.5% in Scandinavia). The overall pooled estimate of psychotropic medicines use was highest in Europe (72.2%, 95% CI, 67.1-77.1%) and lowest in ANZ region (56.9%, 95% CI, 52.2-61.4%). The pooled estimate of benzodiazepines use varied widely from 18.9% in North America to 44.8% in Europe. The pooled estimate of antidepressants use from 47 studies was 38.3% (95% CI 35.1% to 41.6%) with highest proportion in North America (44.9%, 95% CI, 35.3-54.5%).

CONCLUSION

The overall use of CNS drugs varied among countries, with studies from Australia-New Zealand reported the lowest use of CNS drugs. The criteria for prescribing CNS drugs in clinical practice should be evidence-based. The criteria should be used not to prohibit the use of the listed medications but to support the clinical judgement as well as patient safety.

Clozapine use in geriatric patients- Challenges

Clozapine is the first second generation antipsychotic with different receptor profile of action. Clozapine is the most efficacious drug for the treatment of psychotic disorder and is the drug of choice in treatment resistant schizophrenia. Clozapine is used in elderly patients infrequently owing to its adverse effects profile and tolerability. There is paucity of literature with respect to clozapine use in late life. In this narrative review, we discuss clozapine use in elderly and challenges associated with its use.

Antipsychotic inductors of brain hypothermia and torpor-like states: perspectives of application

Hypothermia and hypometabolism (hypometabothermia) normally observed during natural hibernation and torpor, allow animals to protect their body and brain against the damaging effects of adverse environment. A similar state of hypothermia can be achieved under artificial conditions through physical cooling or pharmacological effects directed at suppression of metabolism and the processes of thermoregulation. In these conditions called torpor-like states, the mammalian ability to recover from stroke, heart attack, and traumatic injuries greatly increases. Therefore, the development of therapeutic methods for different pathologies is a matter of great concern. With the discovery of the antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine in the 1950s of the last century, the first attempts to create a pharmacologically induced state of hibernation for therapeutic purposes were made. That was the beginning of numerous studies in animals and the broad use of therapeutic hypothermia in medicine. Over the last years, many new agents have been discovered which were capable of lowering the body temperature and inhibiting the metabolism. The psychotropic agents occupy a significant place among them, which, in our opinion, is not sufficiently recognized in the contemporary literature. In this review, we summarized the latest achievements related to the ability of modern antipsychotics to target specific receptors in the brain, responsible for the initiation of hypometabothermia.

Comparative analysis of the treatment of chronic antipsychotic drugs on epileptic susceptibility in genetically epilepsy-prone rats

Antipsychotic drugs (APs) are of great benefit in several psychiatric disorders, but they can be associated with various adverse effects, including seizures. To investigate the effects of chronic antipsychotic treatment on seizure susceptibility in genetically epilepsy-prone rats, some APs were administered for 7 weeks, and seizure susceptibility (audiogenic seizures) was evaluated once a week during treatment and for 5 weeks after drug withdrawal. Furthermore, acute and subchronic (5-day treatment) effects were also measured. Rats received haloperidol (0.2-1.0 mg/kg), clozapine (1-5 mg/kg), risperidone (0.03-0.50 mg/kg), quetiapine (2-10 mg/kg), aripriprazole (0.2-1.0 mg/kg), and olanzapine (0.13-0.66 mg/kg), and tested according to treatment duration. Acute administration of APs had no effect on seizures, whereas, after regular treatment, aripiprazole reduced seizure severity; haloperidol had no effects and all other APs increased seizure severity. In chronically treated rats, clozapine showed the most marked proconvulsant effects, followed by risperidone and olanzapine. Quetiapine and haloperidol had only modest effects, and aripiprazole was anticonvulsant. Finally, the proconvulsant effects lasted at least 2-3 weeks after treatment suspension; for aripiprazole, a proconvulsant rebound effect was observed. Taken together, these results indicate and confirm that APs might have the potential to increase the severity of audiogenic seizures but that aripiprazole may exert anticonvulsant effects. The use of APs in patients, particularly in patients with epilepsy, should be monitored for seizure occurrence, including during the time after cessation of therapy. Further studies will determine whether aripiprazole really has a potential as an anticonvulsant drug and might also be clinically relevant for epileptic patients with psychiatric comorbidities.

Use of atypical antipsychotics in the elderly: a clinical review

The use of atypical antipsychotic drugs in the elderly has become wider and wider in recent years; in fact, these agents have novel receptor binding profiles, good efficacy with regard to negative symptoms, and reduced extrapyramidal symptoms. However, in recent years, the use of both conventional and atypical antipsychotics has been widely debated for concerns about their safety in elderly patients affected with dementia and the possible risks for stroke and sudden death. A MEDLINE search was made using the words elderly, atypical antipsychotics, use, schizophrenia, psychosis, mood disorders, dementia, behavioral disorders, and adverse events. Some personal studies were also considered. This paper reports the receptor binding profiles and the main mechanism of action of these drugs, together with their main use in psychiatry and the possible adverse events in elderly people.

Use and safety of antipsychotics in behavioral disorders in elderly people with dementia

In recent years, the use of antipsychotics has been widely debated for reasons concerning their safety in elderly patients affected with dementia. To update the use of antipsychotics in elderly demented people, a MEDLINE search was conducted using the following terms: elderly, conventional and atypical antipsychotics, adverse events, dementia, and behavioral and psychotic symptoms in dementia (BPSD). Owing to the large amounts of studies on antipsychotics, we mostly restricted the field of research to the last 10 years. Conventional antipsychotics have been widely used for BPSD; some studies showed they have an efficacy superior to placebo only at high doses, but they are associated with several and severe adverse effects. Atypical antipsychotics showed an efficacy superior to placebo in randomized studies in BPSD treatment, with a better tolerability profile versus conventional drugs. However, in 2002, trials with risperidone and olanzapine in elderly patients affected with dementia-related psychoses suggested the possible increase in cerebrovascular adverse events. Drug regulatory agencies issued specific recommendations for underlining that treatment of BPSD with atypical antipsychotics is "off-label." Conventional antipsychotics showed the same likelihood to increase the risk of death in the elderly as atypical agents, and they should not replace the atypical agents discontinued by Food and Drug Administration warnings. Before prescribing an antipsychotic drug, the following are factors to be seriously considered: the presence of cardiovascular diseases, QTc interval on electrocardiogram, electrolytic imbalances, familiar history for torsades des pointes, concomitant treatments, and use of drugs able to lengthen QTc. Use of antipsychotics in dementia needs a careful case-by-case assessment, together with the possible drug-drug, drug-disease, and drug-food interactions.

Pharmacologic prevention and treatment of delirium in critically ill and non-critically ill hospitalised patients: a review of data from prospective, randomised studies

Delirium occurs commonly in acutely ill hospitalised patients, particularly in the elderly or in cardiac or orthopaedic surgery patients, or those in intensive care units (ICUs). Delirium worsens outcome. Pharmaceutical agents such as antipsychotics and, in the critically ill, dexmedetomidine, are considered therapeutic despite uncertainty regarding their efficacy and safety. Using MEDLINE, we reviewed randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published between 1977 and April 2012 evaluating a pharmacologic intervention to prevent or treat delirium in critically ill and non-critically ill hospitalised patients. The number of prospective RCTs remains limited. Any conclusions about pharmacologic efficacy are limited by the small size of many studies, the inconsistency by which non-pharmacologic delirium prevention strategies were incorporated, the lack of a true placebo arm and a failure to incorporate ICU and non-ICU clinical outcomes. A research framework for future evaluation of the use of medications in both ICU and non-ICU is proposed.

Inappropriate long-term use of antipsychotic drugs is common among people with dementia living in specialized care units

Background

Antipsychotic drugs are widely used for the treatment of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD), despite their limited efficacy and concerns about safety. The aim of this study was to describe antipsychotic drug therapy among people with dementia living in specialized care units in northern Sweden.

Methods

This study was conducted in 40 specialized care units in northern Sweden, with a total study population of 344 people with dementia. The study population was described in regard to antipsychotic drug use, ADL function, cognitive function and BPSD, using the Multi-Dimensional Dementia Assessment Scale (MDDAS). These data were collected at baseline and six months later. Detailed data about antipsychotic prescribing were collected from prescription records.

Results

This study showed that 132 persons (38%) in the study population used antipsychotic drugs at the start of the study. Of these, 52/132 (39%) had prescriptions that followed national guidelines with regard to dose and substance.

After six months, there were 111 of 132 persons left because of deaths and dropouts. Of these 111 people, 80 (72%) were still being treated with antipsychotics, 63/111 (57%) with the same dose. People who exhibited aggressive behavior (OR: 1.980, CI: 1.515-2.588), or passiveness (OR: 1.548, CI: 1.150-2.083), or had mild cognitive impairment (OR: 2.284 CI: 1.046-4.988), were at increased risk of being prescribed antipsychotics.

Conclusion

The prevalence of antipsychotic drug use among people with dementia living in specialized care units was high and inappropriate long-term use of antipsychotic drugs was common.

Antipsychotics for the prevention and treatment of delirium in the intensive care unit: what is their role?

Delirium affects up to 80% of critically ill patients, worsens outcomes, and is frequently treated with antipsychotics despite uncertainty regarding their efficacy and safety. We identified published, English-language, randomized, controlled studies evaluating antipsychotics in ICU patients either with delirium or at risk for developing delirium. In 105 mechanically ventilated patients, the number of days spent alive without delirium or coma was similar between haloperidol (median, 14.0 days; interquartile range [IQR], 6.0-18.0 days) or ziprasidone (median, 15.0 days; IQR, 9.1-18.0 days) prophylaxis, and placebo (median, 12.5 days; IQR, 1.2-17.2 days) groups (p=0.66). Treating delirium with quetiapine, compared to placebo, in 36 ICU patients was associated with a quicker resolution of delirium (median for quetiapine, 1.0 days; IQR, 0.5-3.0 days/median for placebo, 4.5 days; IQR, 2.0-7.0 days [p=0.001]). In a third study, a similar decrease over time in delirium severity was noted between fixed-dose oral olanzapine and oral haloperidol in patients with delirium. None of the studies identified serious safety concerns with administering the antipsychotics that were studied. Published prospective, randomized clinical trials evaluating antipsychotic therapy for preventing or treating delirium in the ICU are few in number. The conclusions that can be drawn from them are limited by their heterogeneity, inconsistency in incorporating non-antipsychotic strategies known to reduce delirium or in maintaining patients in an arousable state, their size, the lack of ICU and non-ICU clinical outcomes evaluated, and the lack of placebo arms. A research framework for future evaluation of the use of antipsychotic therapy in the critically ill is proposed.

The geriatric population and psychiatric medication

With improvement in medical services in the last few years, there has been a constant rise in the geriatric population throughout the world, more so in the developing countries. The elderly are highly prone to develop psychiatric disorders, probably because of age related changes in the brain, concomitant physical disorders, as well as increased stress in later life. Psychiatric disorders in this population may have a different presentation than in other groups and some of psychopathologies might be mistaken for normal age related changes by an unwary clinician. Therefore the need of the day is to train psychiatrists and physicians to better recognize and manage mental disorders in this age group.

The safety of clozapine in the elderly

BACKGROUND

Clozapine was the first atypical 'broad spectrum' antipsychotic drug to be marketed and the first agent approved for the treatment of schizophrenia refractory to other medications. It is also effective for the treatment of aggressive behaviour in schizophrenic and demented patients and in the management of psychosis and aggression in Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review is to study the safety of clozapine for use in elderly patients.

METHODS

An extensive Medline search was made. Some studies that were referenced in reports from our pharmacovigilance centre and from regulatory agencies such as the FDA, EMEA and WHO were included.

CONCLUSIONS

Clozapine treatment in the elderly requires a careful geriatric assessment. However, its use is strongly limited by the possibility of onset of severe adverse effects such as potentially fatal agranulocytosis, myocarditis and others such as seizures, weight gain and metabolic adverse effects.

Anticholinergic drug-induced delirium in an elderly alzheimer's dementia patient

Drug-induced delirium is a common matter in the elderly and anticholinergics, together with a number of different drugs, may significantly contribute to the delirium onset, especially in demented people. We report a case of a probable anticholinergic drug-induced delirium in an elderly patient. An 80-year-old man with Alzheimer's dementia presented with wandering, depressed mood with crying, somatic worries, anedonism and suicide recurrent ideas. A first external psychiatric assessment led to the diagnosis of melancholic depression and therapy with haloperidol 2mg/day, orphenadrine 100mg daily, amitriptyline 40 mg/day, lorazepam 2mg/day was started. Two weeks later patient suddenly developed delirium, characterized by nocturnal agitation, severe insomnia, daytime sedation, confusion, hallucinations and persecutory delusions. These symptoms progressively worsened, with the consequent caregiver's stress. A geriatric consultation excluded the main causes of delirium, therefore both Operative Units of Pharmacovigilance and Psychiatry were activated, for a clinical pharmacological and psychiatric assessment. Haloperidol, amitriptyline and orphenadrine were promptly dismissed. The patient began a treatment with quetiapine 25mg/day for two days, then twice a day, and infusion of saline 1000 ml/day for two days; psychiatric symptoms gradually diminished and therapy with galantamine was begun. We postulate that this clinical report is suggestive for an anticholinergic drug- induced delirium since the Naranjo probability scale indicated a probable relationship between delirium and drug therapy. In conclusion, a complete geriatric, pharmacological, and psychiatric evaluation might be necessary in order to reduce the adverse drug reactions in older patients treated with many drugs.

Adverse Effects of Atypical Antipsychotics in the Elderly

Use of antipsychotic medication is very common in the elderly and often an essential therapy. However, successful treatment in the elderly requires appropriate multidimensional assessment of the patient, knowledge of possible multiple co-morbidities, and awareness of the complexities of polypharmacy, age-dependent changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and drug-drug interactions in this age group. Antipsychotics are known to have a number of adverse effects. New antipsychotics, such as amisulpride, clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone, zotepine and aripiprazole, may interact with both dopamine and serotonin receptors. However, compared with conventional antipsychotics, they are less likely to cause extrapyramidal symptoms and are better tolerated in the elderly. At the same time, consistent differences between atypical antipsychotics have been demonstrated. Use of clozapine, for example, is limited by the risk of agranulocytosis, whereas this is not a disadvantage of olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine and, more recently, ziprasidone, which are being widely used with good results in schizophrenia. However, use of the latter agents to treat the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia has been restricted because of recent observations of increased cardiovascular events in patients taking risperidone and olanzapine treatment. Nonetheless, careful review of the literature suggests that the available evidence does not support any causal relationship between use of risperidone or olanzapine and cardiovascular events. This article focuses on some of the main adverse effects commonly reported during administration of atypical antipsychotics to elderly patients. Such effects may be partly explained by age-related changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and partly by the characteristics of the drugs themselves and their different receptor binding profiles.

Clinical effectiveness of atypical antipsychotics in elderly patients with psychosis

The elderly represent a unique patient group in the sense that they have a high prevalence of psychotic symptoms that are a manifestation of a variety of psychiatric, neurological and organic disorders. Treatment is complicated by several factors including comorbid diagnoses (psychiatric and medical), polypharmacy, age-related changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and high susceptibility to adverse events. Elderly patients require pharmacological interventions that are effective in reducing symptoms but also are well tolerated, improve everyday functioning, subjective well-being and treatment adherence and reduce family/career burden. The ability of an antipsychotic to fulfil these requirements determines its clinical effectiveness. To date, few studies have investigated the clinical effectiveness of atypical antipsychotics in elderly patients. However, clear differences exist between the available agents, particularly with regard to tolerability profiles, which have a major impact on the clinical outcome of patients. Clinicians should select an agent that is not only effective in reducing psychotic symptoms but, more importantly, one that has a low incidence of adverse events, such as extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and neurocognitive problems, which are of concern in the elderly.

Patterns and costs of antipsychotic drug use in Taiwan: 1997 to 2001

The advent of atypical antipsychotics greatly changed the treatment pattern for mental illnesses worldwide. This study was designed to determine the trend in prevalence, prescribing pattern, and cost of antipsychotic agents in Taiwan from 1997 to 2001. Data were obtained from claims completed for a random sample of 200,000 people registered with the National Health Insurance program. The antipsychotics monitored included all group N05A drugs in the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system (version 2000). Conventional and atypical antipsychotics were handled separately. Of the 195,971 eligible registrants, 37,441 (19.1%) received any kind of antipsychotic during this 5-year period, but only 713 (0.4%) used atypical antipsychotics. The prevalence of conventional antipsychotic use during each successive year of this study was 5.2%, 5.7%, 6.6%, 6.2%, and 6.1% and 0.1%, 0.1%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% for atypical agents. Although far fewer registrants used them, atypicals comprised 19.1% of all prescribed amounts measured in defined daily doses and 56.1% of the cost for all antipsychotics in 2001. During the 5-year study period, atypical antipsychotics were prescribed for 405 (57%) patients with schizophrenia, 132 (19%) with affective disorder, 128 (18%) with other psychiatric disorders, and 48 (7%) with a nonpsychiatric disorder. With the loosening of reimbursement restrictions in 2002, continued growth of atypical antipsychotic use in Taiwan might be expected.