Implementation of a rational pharmacotherapy intervention for inpatients at a psychiatric department.

Publisher: Informa Healthcare Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 100927567 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1502-4725 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 08039488 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Nord J Psychiatry Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: London : Informa Healthcare
Original Publication: Oslo ; Boston : Scandinavian University Press, c1999-

Evidence-Based Medicine* ; Patient Admission* ; Schizophrenic Psychology*; Antidepressive Agents/*therapeutic use ; Antipsychotic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Depressive Disorder/*drug therapy ; Psychotic Disorders/*drug therapy ; Schizophrenia/*drug therapy; Adult ; Algorithms ; Antidepressive Agents/adverse effects ; Antipsychotic Agents/adverse effects ; Denmark ; Depressive Disorder/diagnosis ; Depressive Disorder/psychology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Medication Errors/prevention & control ; Middle Aged ; Patient Compliance ; Psychiatric Department, Hospital ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ; Psychotic Disorders/diagnosis ; Psychotic Disorders/psychology ; Schizophrenia/diagnosis

The objective of the study was to develop, implement and evaluate two treatment algorithms for schizophrenia and depression at a psychiatric hospital department. The treatment algorithms were based on available literature and developed in collaboration between psychiatrists, clinical pharmacologists and a clinical pharmacist. The treatment algorithms were introduced at a meeting for all psychiatrists, reinforced by the project psychiatrists in the daily routine and used for educational purposes of young doctors and medical students. A quantitative pre-post evaluation was conducted using data from medical charts, and qualitative information was collected by interviews. In general, no significant differences were found when comparing outcomes from 104 charts from the baseline period with 96 charts from the post-intervention period. Most of the patients (65% in the post-intervention period) admitted during the data collection periods did not receive any medication changes. Of the patients undergoing medication changes in the post-intervention period, 56% followed the algorithms, and 70% of the patients admitted to the psychiatric hospital department for the first time had their medications changed according to the algorithms. All of the 10 interviewed doctors found the algorithms useful. The treatment algorithms were successfully implemented with a high degree of satisfaction among the interviewed doctors. The majority of patients admitted to the psychiatric hospital department for the first time had their medications changed according to the algorithms.

0 (Antidepressive Agents)
0 (Antipsychotic Agents)

Date Created: 20080716 Date Completed: 20081023 Latest Revision: 20080714

20240513

10.1080/08039480802097826

18622885