Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-xtgtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T08:14:38.365Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Audit of anticholinergic treatment in a psychiatric patient population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Justin H. G. Williams*
Affiliation:
Specialist Registrar, Department of Psychiatry, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School Dundee DD1 9SY
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Aims and method

An audit was performed to look at how carefully anticholinergic medication was prescribed and monitored in a population of psychiatric patients on depot medication.

Results

The mean duration of prescription was 47 months and 44% of patients' prescriptions went unaltered for over three years. Evidence was lacking for rational initial anticholinergic prescription.

Clinical implications

Anticholinergic treatment needs to be prescribed more rationally with regular monitoring of extra-pyramidal symptoms.

Type
Original papers
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

References

Barnes, T. R. E. (1990) Comment on the WHO consensus statement. British Journal of Psychiatry, 156, 413414.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bazire, S. (1995) Psychotropic Drug Directory 1995, p. 42. Milton Keynes: Lundbeck.Google Scholar
Double, D. B., Warren, G. C., Evans, M., et al (1993) Efficacy of maintenance use of anticholinergic agents. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 88, 381384.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnstone, E. C., Crow, T. J., Ferrier, N. I., et al (1983) Adverse effects of anticholinergic medication on positive schizophrenic symptoms. Psychological Medicine, 13, 513527.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
World Health Organization (1990) Prophylactic use of anticholinergics in patients on long-term neuroleptic treatment. A consensus statement. British Journal of Psychiatry, 156, 412.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.