Association between antipsychotic/antidepressant drug treatments and hospital admissions in schizophrenia assessed using a mental health case register.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The impact of psychotropic drug choice upon admissions for schizophrenia is not well understood.

Aims

To examine the association between antipsychotic/antidepressant use and time in hospital for patients with schizophrenia.

Methods

We conducted an observational study, using 8 years' admission records and electronically generated drug histories from an institution providing secondary mental health care in Cambridgeshire, UK, covering the period 2005-2012 inclusive. Patients with a coded ICD-10 diagnosis of schizophrenia were selected. The primary outcome measure was the time spent as an inpatient in a psychiatric unit. Antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs used by at least 5% of patients overall were examined for associations with admissions. Periods before

SUBMITTER: Cardinal RN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4849458 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature