Jorge Simal-Aguado1, María-Pilar Campos-Navarro1, Francisco Valdivia-Muñoz1, Alejandro Galindo-Tovar1, Juan Antonio García-Carmona1. 1. Simal-Aguado, Galindo-Tovar, Department of Pharmacy, Health Sciences Faculty, San Antonio Catholic University of Murcia, UCAM, Murcia; Spain. Campos-Navarro, Unit of Acute Psychiatry, Santa Lucia University Hospital, Cartagena; Spain. Valdivia-Muñoz, Center of Mental Health Infante, Murcia; Spain, Center of Mental Health Cartagena, Cartagena, Murcia; Spain. Garcia-Carmona, Department of Neurology, Santa Lucia University Hospital, Cartagena; Spain, Unit of Acute Psychiatry, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Murcia; Spain.
Abstract
Purpose: we aimed 1) to evaluate the risk factors associated to the benzodiazepines intake; 2) to assess the impact about the use of long acting injectables antipsychotics (LAIs); 3) to assess the risk in severe and affective disorders and 4) to identify the prescription patterns of use in mental health in a cohort of patients from Spain. Methods: 735 outpatients from Mental Health were included. Demographic and clinical data were collected. In order to compare the use of benzodiazepines we calculated the daily dose equivalents (mg/day) to diazepam as standard. Results: The most commonly prescribed benzodiazepine was clonazepam (33%) and the mean daily dose of diazepam equivalents was 24.9 mg. It was higher in affective disorders (40.35 ± 3.36) and lower in patients using LAIs antipsychotics (17.50 ± 1.39; p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that to be women (OR = 1.559, 95% CI = 1.059-2.295, p = 0.024), the use of drugs (OR = 1.671, 95% CI = 1.127-2.477, p = 0.011) and suffering any affective disorder (OR = 1.542, 95% CI = 1.355-1.826, p = 0.040) increased the risk of benzodiazepine intake. In contrast, the use of LAIs antipsychotics significantly reduced it versus oral antipsychotics (OR = 5.226, 95% CI = 3.185-8.575, p = 0.001). Conclusions: benzodiazepines are widely prescribed, mainly clonazepam followed by lorazepam and diazepam. Most of patients used at least one benzodiazepine and the mean daily intake was 25 mg diazepam equivalents. Therefore, benzodiazepines are extensively prescribed and used at higher doses than desirable. These, findings could be useful for clinicians and their practice.
Purpose: we aimed 1) to evaluate the risk factors associated to the benzodiazepines intake; 2) to assess the impact about the use of long acting injectables antipsychotics (LAIs); 3) to assess the risk in severe and affective disorders and 4) to identify the prescription patterns of use in mental health in a cohort of patients from Spain. Methods: 735 outpatients from Mental Health were included. Demographic and clinical data were collected. In order to compare the use of benzodiazepines we calculated the daily dose equivalents (mg/day) to diazepam as standard. Results: The most commonly prescribed benzodiazepine was clonazepam (33%) and the mean daily dose of diazepam equivalents was 24.9 mg. It was higher in affective disorders (40.35 ± 3.36) and lower in patients using LAIs antipsychotics (17.50 ± 1.39; p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that to be women (OR = 1.559, 95% CI = 1.059-2.295, p = 0.024), the use of drugs (OR = 1.671, 95% CI = 1.127-2.477, p = 0.011) and suffering any affective disorder (OR = 1.542, 95% CI = 1.355-1.826, p = 0.040) increased the risk of benzodiazepine intake. In contrast, the use of LAIs antipsychotics significantly reduced it versus oral antipsychotics (OR = 5.226, 95% CI = 3.185-8.575, p = 0.001). Conclusions: benzodiazepines are widely prescribed, mainly clonazepam followed by lorazepam and diazepam. Most of patients used at least one benzodiazepine and the mean daily intake was 25 mg diazepam equivalents. Therefore, benzodiazepines are extensively prescribed and used at higher doses than desirable. These, findings could be useful for clinicians and their practice.
Authors: Carlos Blanco; Beth Han; Christopher M Jones; Kimberly Johnson; Wilson M Compton Journal: J Clin Psychiatry Date: 2018-10-16 Impact factor: 4.384
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Authors: Juan Antonio García-Carmona; Jorge Simal-Aguado; María Pilar Campos-Navarro; Francisco Valdivia-Muñoz; Alejandro Galindo-Tovar Journal: Int Clin Psychopharmacol Date: 2021-01 Impact factor: 1.659