T Scott Stroup1, Tobias Gerhard1, Stephen Crystal1, Cecilia Huang1, Zhiqiang Tan1, Melanie M Wall1, Chacku M Mathai1, Mark Olfson1. 1. Dr. Stroup, Dr. Wall, and Dr. Olfson are with the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York. Dr. Gerhard, Dr. Crystal, and Dr. Huang are with the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Dr. Tan is with the Department of Statistics and Biostatistics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey. Mr. Mathai is with the Mental Health Association, Rochester, New York.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the use of different classes of psychotropic medication in outpatient treatment of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. METHODS: Data from the United States Medicaid program were used to examine psychotropic medication use in a cohort of patients who had a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in the calendar year 2010. RESULTS: The cohort of Medicaid recipients who filled one or more prescriptions for a psychotropic medication in 2010 included 116,249 patients classified as having schizophrenia and 84,537 classified as having schizoaffective disorder. During 2010, 86.1% of patients with schizoaffective disorder and 70.1% with schizophrenia were treated with two or more different classes of psychotropic. CONCLUSIONS: Psychotropic medications other than antipsychotics were commonly prescribed for individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Their widespread use and uncertainty about their net benefits signal a need for research on their efficacy, safety, and appropriate use in these conditions.
OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the use of different classes of psychotropic medication in outpatient treatment of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. METHODS: Data from the United States Medicaid program were used to examine psychotropic medication use in a cohort of patients who had a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in the calendar year 2010. RESULTS: The cohort of Medicaid recipients who filled one or more prescriptions for a psychotropic medication in 2010 included 116,249 patients classified as having schizophrenia and 84,537 classified as having schizoaffective disorder. During 2010, 86.1% of patients with schizoaffective disorder and 70.1% with schizophrenia were treated with two or more different classes of psychotropic. CONCLUSIONS: Psychotropic medications other than antipsychotics were commonly prescribed for individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Their widespread use and uncertainty about their net benefits signal a need for research on their efficacy, safety, and appropriate use in these conditions.