PB CPD Online e-learning site
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Psychiatric Bulletin (2008) 32: 103-105. doi: 10.1192/pb.bp.107.016899
© 2008 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow A correction has been published
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hung, G. B. K.
Right arrow Articles by Cheung, H. K.
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Hung, G. B. K.
Right arrow Articles by Cheung, H. K.

A survey of in-patient and out-patient antipsychotic prescriptions in Hong Kong

Gabriel B. K. Hung, Resident in Rehabilitation Psychiatry

*Castle Peak Hospital, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, email: gabrielhung{at}hotmail.com

H. K. Cheung, Chief of Science

Castle Peak Hospital, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

Antipsychotic prescriptions were analysed for a large sample of psychiatric in-patients and out-patients in Hong Kong. Case notes for patients receiving high doses were reviewed and compared with the most recent consensus statement issued by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

RESULTS

Demographic and prescription data were obtained from 1254 in-patients and 19 986 out-patients. Antipsychotic medications were prescribed to 1129 in-patients and 7520 out-patients, with 9.2% of in-patients and 1.8% of out-patients receiving a high dose. Almost all case notes failed to record the clinical indications for high-dose prescribing or that the patient had been informed. Electrocardiograms were performed in a very small proportion of patients receiving a high dose.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Low levels of adherence to established guidelines for high-dose antipsychotic prescription were found in this study, with clinical and medico-legal implications. The results of this study highlight the need for staff education and regular audit of antipsychotic doses in the in-patient and out-patient setting.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals
Copyright © 2008 The Royal College of Psychiatrists.