Psychotropic drug

About: Psychotropic drug is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2309 publications have been published within this topic receiving 54070 citations.

Health problems and policies for older women : an emerging issue in developing countries

Abstract: Health problems of older women will become an increasingly important issue in developing countries partially because of the sheer increase in absolute numbers. Today, two out of three of the world's 469 million women older than 50 already reside in developing countries. By 2020, three out of four will reside in developing countries, an absolute increase of 408 million. It is imperative to keep in mind the heterogeneity of developing countries. Older women constitute a distinct population that requires interventions very different from a population of younger women, who need an emphasis on maternity care. Obviously health problems of women are not homogeneous and cannot all be addressed through the traditional maternal and child health services. The pattern of health problems older women face reflects to a large extent the level of development of their region and country. Additionally, a woman's well-being is a result of all her previous experiences, including factors such as urban or rural residence, marital status, number of children, education, income, and nutrition. Furthermore, work has a tremendous influence on women's physical and mental health. Indeed, occupational health problems are emerging as a result of the increased number of women in urban industrial jobs. This report confines the discussion of women's health to the major causes of disease burden with the recognition that this is a narrow description of women's well-being. It presents possible policy directions and programs for prevention of mortality and morbidity among women older than 50 according to the typology of the country in which they reside.

Potential Psychotropic Drug Interactions among Drug-dependent People

Abstract: Using psychiatric drugs to treat drug dependence and its comorbidities is very common. The objective of this study was to analyze the interactions between prescribed drugs for patients treated at a...

Increased risk of mental health problems after cancer during adolescence: A register-based cohort study.

Abstract: In this nationwide, register-based study, we estimated the risk of mental health problems in 2822 individuals diagnosed with cancer in adolescence (13-19 years). Mental health problems were assessed by psychiatric diagnoses and/or prescribed psychotropic drugs. Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratio (HR) for a psychiatric diagnosis and prescription of psychotropic drug compared to a matched comparison group (n = 28 220). Estimates were adjusted for calendar period and parent characteristics (eg, history of psychiatric diagnosis, education, country of birth). We found an increased risk of a psychiatric diagnosis during the first 5 years after the cancer diagnosis (females: HR 1.23, 95% CI, 1.06-1.44; males: HR 1.32, 95% CI, 1.11-1.56), and at >5 years after diagnosis (females: HR 1.31, 95% CI, 1.09-1.58, males: HR 1.45, 95% CI, 1.18-1.77). The risk of being prescribed antidepressant (females: HR 1.54, 95% CI, 1.30-1.84, males: HR 2.06, 95% CI, 1.66-2.55), antipsychotic (females: HR 2.28, 95% CI, 1.56-3.34, males: HR 3.07, 95% CI, 2.13-4.42), anxiolytic (females: HR 1.95, 95% CI, 1.64-2.31, males: HR 4.02, 95% CI, 3.34-4.84) and sedative drugs (females: HR 2.24, 95% CI, 1.84-2.72, males: HR 3.91, 95% CI, 3.23-4.73) were higher than for comparisons during the first 5 years after diagnosis. Median age at first psychiatric diagnosis and first prescribed psychotropic drug were 18 years. In conclusion, cancer during adolescence is associated with increased risk of mental health problems that may develop in close proximity to treatment. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive care during treatment and follow-up.

Utilisation of psychotropic drugs prescribed for children and adolescents in UK general practice.

Abstract: Many psychotropic drugs have not been properly tested in clinical trials for efficacy and safety in children and adolescents. The increasing use of psychotropic drugs in young people is better established in North America; however, it is unclear to what extent these studies are applicable to UK practice. Using data from the UK General Practice Research Database (GPRD), an overall prevalence of psychotropic drug prescribing trend was initially carried out involving children and adolescents, aged 0-18 years, between January 1992 and December 2000. Upward prevalence of prescribing was observed in stimulants (aged 3-18 years), antidepressants (aged 13-18 years) and anticonvulsants (aged 6-18 years). Following this finding, two drug utilisation studies on stimulants and anticonvulsants were carried out. The use of antidepressants was not included, as its prescribing pattern had already been published elsewhere. An increasing prescribing of stimulants was attributable to methylphenidate use. This was coincident with the change of methylphenidate licence status in 1995. The prevalence of methylphenidate prescribing significantly increased from 0.01 per 1000 patients (95%CI 0.004-0.02) in 1992 to 2.13 per 1000 patients (95%CI 1.92-2.36) in 2000. The age-specific prevalence was highest between the aged 10-12 years. The most commonly diagnosis associated with its prescription was behavioural disorders. As some patients were taking methylphenidate as needed and some individuals may have stopped taking it during school holiday, this was problematic to measure methylphenidate exposure using a computerised database. Consequently, it was not possible to conduct further safety studies for methylphenidate use. The second drug utilisation study on anticonvulsants has shown the incidence of prescribing remain stabled from 1.40 per 1000 person-years (95%CI 1.41-1.57) to 1.05 per 1000 person-years (95%CI 0.90-1.22) throughout study period. The rate was highest in younger children aged 0-2 years. The use of conventional anticonvulsants appeared to decline whilst the use of newer anticonvulsants constantly increased. The majority of subjects prescribed anticonvulsant had a diagnosis of epilepsy. A small proportion of anticonvulsant-treated subjects died during the study period. As sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a phenomenon which is not fully understood at this time, hence, a descriptive case series study was conducted to assess the causes of death. Unfortunately, this was not a successful approach due to the incomplete information recorded in the database. In addition, we did not utilise GPRD verification service to obtain additional information. As a result, this study did not provide any compelling evidence. Due to the concern of an increasing use of lamotrigine (newer anticonvulsant) and the limited evidence of risk cutaneous reactions associated with anticonvulsants in paediatric population, a case-control study was subsequently conducted to investigate the association of severe cutaneous reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme, exfoliative dermatitis) and anticonvulsants use. There was no evidence to show an increased risk of severe cutaneous reaction associated with anticonvulsant use (odd ratio: 0.93; 95%CI 0.48- 2.05), several risks factors were found significantly associated with these conditions. It is suggested to use case-crossover study design to reassure our findings.This thesis has illustrated strengths and limitations of using a computerised primary care database in the field of paediatric psychiatric research. It has provided an in- depth understanding of psychotropic drug prescribing patterns in young people in UK practice. Comparing it with published studies from North America, there is variation of prescribing trends between countries. It is suggested that GP questionnaire should be utilised in order to obtain additional information to confirm diagnosis and treatment. To collaborate with other countries in order to document psychotropic drug use in paediatric population at the multinational level is needed. Considerable research is still required to ensure that psychotropic drugs can be used appropriately in clinical practice.

[A new psychotropic drug: carpipramine, intermediate compound between 2 therapeutic classes].

Abstract: An open clinical study was conducted with carpipramine in 100 hospitalized subjects presenting various mental disorders. The therapeutic results on symptoms were assessed both as a whole and with the help of a rating scale. Doses varied from 50 to 400 mg per day. Carpipramine seems to be particularly efficient on schizophrenias, 66 cases of which were tested. The best results were observed in hebephrenic forms and depressive syndroms during the illness; in these indications, carpipramine exerts a clear psychomotor stimulating activity which is useful in decreasing indifference, apathy and ideomotor slowness. Schizophrenias with paranoid delusions or depersonalization anxiety tend to be somehow aggravated. Carpipramine does not seem to be a true antidepressant despite its desinhibitory properties. The compound proves useful in deficits of the psychomotor tone such as those occuring in psychasthenia or the deficit syndrom which follows withdrawal from opiates. Clinical and biological tolerances seem to be excellent and extrapyramidal side effects are exceptional. Carpipramine may be considered as a strongly desinhibitory neuroleptic agent which bears some resemblance to antidepressants because of its psychoanaleptic effect. The authors raise the question of possible antipsychotic properties in higher doses in relation to pharmacological data and a bipolar, antipsychotic and predominantly desinhibitory, therapeutic action.