PRESCRIBING PATTERNS OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS IN PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Prescription pattern studies help assess the rational use of medicines in real-world clinical practice. Objective: To describe psychotropic prescribing patterns and World Health Organisation and International Network for Rational Use of Drugs (WHO-INRUD) prescribing indicators among outpatients with schizophrenia. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 154 adults with DSM-5 schizophrenia attending the psychiatry outpatient department of Pt. B. D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana. Prescription details were recorded and analysed descriptively. Results: The mean age was 45.75 ± 14.42 years; 80 participants (52.0%) were women. Second-generation antipsychotics accounted for 173 of 190 antipsychotic orders (91.05%) and olanzapine was the most frequently prescribed agent (104 orders, 54.74%). Two or more psychotropics were prescribed to 129 patients (83.8%), whereas high-level polypharmacy (five or more psychotropics) was seen in one patient (0.64%). Antidepressants were used in 72 encounters, mainly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (67, 93.06%). The mean number of drugs per prescription was 2.65 and 97.98% of psychotropic drugs were prescribed by generic name. Injectable drug use was 1.30%, no fixed-dose combination was prescribed and 90.75% of psychotropic drugs were listed in the Government of Haryana Essential Drug List.