Abstract

A PILOT STUDY ON UTILIZATION PATTERN OF ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS IN SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENTS FROM SOUTHERN INDIA

*S. Sridhar, Krishna Ravi, Maria Raju and Linus Thomas

ABSTRACT

Objective: The main objective of the study was to find out the commonest antipsychotics prescribed in schizophrenic patients in Southern India. Methodology: The present pilot observational study was done in psychiatry department at various hospitals in Southern India. The data were collected by using a data entry form which was about age, gender, education, occupation, marital status and drug details. The diagnosis of schizophrenia was based on ICD -10 (Tenth revision). A total of 80 prescriptions were analyzed. The statistical analysis was done by using SPSS 16 with the help of Z test, Chi square test and logistic regression. Result: Out of 80 cases of schizophrenia, most of the patients were less than 45yrs. Among them 78.75% were male, 21.25% were female and, 86.25% were unemployed. The study revealed that 46.25% of patients were students followed by 25% housewives. Risperidone was the commonest atypical antipsychotic drug prescribed (34.35%), especially by psychiatrist for male patients as compared to female patients. Moreover, risperidone was found to cause minimal extra pyramidal symptoms (EPS) with faster recovery rate. Conclusion: According to the utilization pattern of antipsychotics, it may be concluded that the atypical antipsychotics were used relatively more commonly than that of typical antipsychotics. Among the atypical antipsychotic drugs, risperidone was the preferred drug of choice for treating schizophrenia as compared to other atypical antipsychotic drugs in Southern India.

Keywords: The main objective Risperidone Southern India.