Lara Grau-López1, Carlos Roncero, Constanza Daigre, Laia Miquel, Carmen Barral, Begoña Gonzalvo, Francisco Collazos, Miquel Casas. 1. From the Outpatient drug clinic (CAS) Vall d'Hebron (LGL, CR, CD, LM, CB, BG), Department of Psychiatry, Vall Hebron University Hospital, Public Health Agency of Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry (LGL, CR, LM, CB, FC, MC), Vall Hebron University Hospital, Autonomous University of Barcelona, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain; and Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine (LGL, CD, CR, FC, MC), Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To quantify the number of medications used for treating psychiatric and addictive disorders in a cohort of dual diagnosis with substance dependence outpatients and report the most frequent pharmacological groups used. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. Demographic data, Axis I comorbidity diagnosis with substance dependence, and the medications prescribed were recorded. Diagnosis was assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). RESULTS: One hundred seven patients (mean age 37.7 years; SD = 10.2 years) were evaluated (76.6% men). On average, patients took 4.0 (SD = 1.8) medications. The pharmacological groups prescribed were antipsychotics (69.2%) followed by antidepressants (65.4%), antiepileptics (58.9%), anxiolytics (37.4%), alcohol-aversive drugs (15.9%), methadone (15.9%), lithium (3.7%), and naltrexone (2.8%). Older patients (>45 years old) were found to have a higher number of prescribed medications. Patients diagnosed with a dual psychotic disorder were prescribed a larger number of pharmacological agents (mean = 4.4; SD = 2.1) than patients with a mood disorder (mean = 3.7; SD = 1.3) or an anxiety disorder (mean = 2.9; SD = 1.2), K = 10.5, P = 0.005. CONCLUSIONS: Because polypharmacy is frequent in patients with mental illness and a co-occurring substance use disorder, specialized approaches need to be developed.
OBJECTIVES: To quantify the number of medications used for treating psychiatric and addictive disorders in a cohort of dual diagnosis with substance dependence outpatients and report the most frequent pharmacological groups used. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. Demographic data, Axis I comorbidity diagnosis with substance dependence, and the medications prescribed were recorded. Diagnosis was assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). RESULTS: One hundred seven patients (mean age 37.7 years; SD = 10.2 years) were evaluated (76.6% men). On average, patients took 4.0 (SD = 1.8) medications. The pharmacological groups prescribed were antipsychotics (69.2%) followed by antidepressants (65.4%), antiepileptics (58.9%), anxiolytics (37.4%), alcohol-aversive drugs (15.9%), methadone (15.9%), lithium (3.7%), and naltrexone (2.8%). Older patients (>45 years old) were found to have a higher number of prescribed medications. Patients diagnosed with a dual psychotic disorder were prescribed a larger number of pharmacological agents (mean = 4.4; SD = 2.1) than patients with a mood disorder (mean = 3.7; SD = 1.3) or an anxiety disorder (mean = 2.9; SD = 1.2), K = 10.5, P = 0.005. CONCLUSIONS: Because polypharmacy is frequent in patients with mental illness and a co-occurring substance use disorder, specialized approaches need to be developed.
Authors: Carlos Roncero; Pablo Vega; Jose Martínez-Raga; Carmen Barral; Ignacio Basurte-Villamor; Laia Rodríguez-Cintas; Beatriz Mesías; Lara Grau-López; Miguel Casas; Nestor Szerman Journal: Int J Ment Health Syst Date: 2014-08-28
Authors: Carlos Roncero; Néstor Szerman; Antonio Terán; Carlos Pino; José María Vázquez; Elena Velasco; Marta García-Dorado; Miguel Casas Journal: Patient Prefer Adherence Date: 2016-09-19 Impact factor: 2.711