Psychotropic drug

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

Impact of socioeconomic deprivation on maternal perinatal mental illnesses presenting to UK general practice.

Abstract: Background Although maternal perinatal mental illnesses commonly present to and are primarily treated in general practice, few population-based estimates of this burden exist, and the most affected socioeconomic groups of pregnant women remain unclear. Aim To provide estimates of maternal depression, anxiety and serious mental illness (SMI) in UK general practice and quantify impacts of socioeconomic deprivation. Design and setting Cross-sectional analysis of prospectively recorded general practice records from a UK-wide database. Method A pregnancy ending in live birth was randomly selected for every woman of childbearing age, 1994–2009. Prevalence and diagnostic overlap of mental illnesses were calculated using a combination of medical diagnoses and psychotropic drug prescriptions. Socioeconomic deprivation was assessed using multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for calendar period and pregnancy history. Results Among 116 457 women, 5.1% presented with antenatal depression and 13.3% with postnatal depression. Equivalent figures for anxiety were 2.6% and 3.7% and for SMI 1/1000 and 2/1000 women. Socioeconomic deprivation increased the risk of all mental illnesses, although this was more marked in older women. Those age 35–45 years in the most deprived group had 2.63 times the odds of antenatal depression (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.22 to 3.13) compared with the least deprived; in women aged 15–25 years the increased odds associated with deprivation was more modest (odds ratio = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.70). Similar patterns were found for anxiety and SMI. Conclusion Strong socioeconomic inequalities in perinatal mental illness persist with increasing maternal age. Targeting detection and effective interventions to high-risk women may reduce inequity and avoid substantial psychiatric morbidity.

Prescription of Psychotropics to Children in Office-Based Practice

Abstract: • Multiple authors have stressed the need for close follow-up and simultaneous psychotherapy in most children treated with psychotropic drugs. However, little is known about the actual prescription of psychotropic medications in pediatric settings. Using the 1985 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, we investigated the frequency of follow-up arrangements and concurrent psychotherapy among US children in visits to office-based practices. We then explored determinants of psychotropic drug prescriptions. Mental health indicators, sociodemographic characteristics, provider type, and provider familiarity with the patient were important predictors of psychotropic prescriptions. Few providers report referral or concurrent psychotherapy for their patients receiving psychotropics, and follow-up plans were no different for children with or without psychotropics after controlling for other variables. This means that many children in outpatient care who are taking psychotropic medications may not be receiving optimal management for behavioral or emotional problems. ( AJDC . 1989;143:855-859)

Sex Differences in Response to Lithium Treatment

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Although sex differences occur with some psychotropic drug treatments, they are not well defined for mood-stabilizing agents, including lithium. The authors’ goal was to investigate whether there are differences between the sexes in response to lithium. METHOD: Studies identified in a literature search were analyzed for reports of sex differences in clinical response to lithium in major affective syndromes. RESULTS: Data from 17 studies published in 1967–1998, involving 1,548 adults treated with lithium for a mean of 38.6 months (SD=30.5), yielded similar weighted response rates to lithium in 1,043 women (65.6% [N=684]) and 505 men (61.0% [N=308]). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate little difference between the sexes in clinical response to lithium treatment of bipolar and related affective disorders.

A longitudinal study of psychotropic drug prescription.

Abstract: While many of the characteristics of psychotropic drug consumers have been established by means of cross-sectional studies, little is known about new consumers and the factors which predispose to long-term treatment. We report on a longitudinal study of 153 general practice patients beginning a new course of psychotropic drug treatment and characterized by extensive physical and psychological morbidity. About 1 in 5 were still receiving psychotropic drugs 6 months later and this prolonged treatment was associated with increased age, previous psychotropic drug-use, higher levels of psychological morbidity at the inception of treatment and, for the women only, social problems as perceived by the general practitioners.