Abstract

ADVERSE DRUG REACTION MONITORING TO ANTI-PSYCHOTIC DRUGS IN OUT-PATIENT DEPARTMENT OF A PSYCHIATRY HOSPITAL

Samina Farhat, Afkat Ahmad, Shagufta Parveen*, Muzaffer Ahmad Pukhta Ahmad, Rehana Tabassum

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Antipsychotic drugs are of great benefit in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders. Their use is increasing day by day, but all are capable of causing a wide range of potential adverse effects among which most are preventable. So a comprehensive Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) monitoring, evaluating and reporting programs need to be undertaken to ensure that patients receive safe medicines and mortality/morbidity due to ADRs is considerably reduced. Material and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the Outpatient Department of Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHNS), Government Medical College Srinagar for a period of one year. ADRs were reported either by the consultant or spontaneously by patients or their guardians and a questionnaire was used asking the patient specific questions related to likely ADRs and patient‟s responses were recorded in the Case Record Form (CRF). An assessment of causality was done using both Naranjo‟s and WHO-UMC monitoring scales. Results: A total of 100 ADRs of 33 different types were observed in 77 patients out of the total 177 patients included in our study with an overall prevalence of about 43.5%. Most of the ADRs had a „probable‟ causal relationship with the prescribed antipsychotics while using both the Naranjo‟s and WHO-UMC monitoring scales. There was no statistically significant relationship between the development of ADRs with age (p=0.825) or sex (p= 0.649).Conclusion: Psychiatrists and other health care professionals treating psychiatric patients should have a good knowledge about the possible ADRs following antipsychotic medication and thus keep an active vigil to prevent and treat such ADRs so as to improve the patient‟s quality of life. The establishment of an active Pharmacovigilance Programme is hence an essential requirement to any health institution.

Keywords: Adverse drug reactions, Antipsychotic drugs, Drug monitoring, ADRs and antipsychotics.