Dataset Information

Free-of-charge dispensing of antipsychotics for schizophrenia in Denmark: Impact on the nationwide prescription registry and redemption of somatic medications.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Free-of-charge dispensing of antipsychotics for schizophrenia was introduced in Denmark around 2008. However, free-of-charge dispensing is not recorded in the Danish National Prescription Register (DNPR), potentially introducing bias and misclassification.

Methods

We identified all 30 275 individuals with a first-episode schizophrenia diagnosis in Denmark between 1 January 1999 and 1 March 2017 including all redeemed prescriptions registered in the DNPR during the 2 years after the schizophrenia diagnosis. For each calendar year, we calculated the proportion of individuals who had filled ≥1 prescription for psychotropic and/or somatic medications within the first 2 years after the schizophrenia diagnosis.

Results

From 2007 to 2017, the proportion of individuals with prescription-records for any psychotropic medication during the 2 years after the schizophrenia diagnosis decreased from 88% to 74%, particularly antipsychotics (from 83% to 61%) and antidepressants (from 49% to 35%). This was particularly observed among those aged 18-30 years at the schizophrenia diagnosis. A similar decrease was not observed for prescription-records of somatic medications.

Conclusion

The introduction of free-of-charge antipsychotics has affected the redemption of specific psychotropic drugs in the DNPR in first-episode schizophrenia. This limitation needs to be considered in register-based studies and emphasizes the need to identify solutions.

SUBMITTER: Rohde C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9545438 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Free-of-charge dispensing of antipsychotics for schizophrenia in Denmark: Impact on the nationwide prescription registry and redemption of somatic medications.

Rohde Christopher C Højlund Mikkel M Gasse Christiane C Hallas Jesper J Köhler-Forsberg Ole O

Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology 20220805 4

<h4>Objective</h4>Free-of-charge dispensing of antipsychotics for schizophrenia was introduced in Denmark around 2008. However, free-of-charge dispensing is not recorded in the Danish National Prescription Register (DNPR), potentially introducing bias and misclassification.<h4>Methods</h4>We identified all 30 275 individuals with a first-episode schizophrenia diagnosis in Denmark between 1 January 1999 and 1 March 2017 including all redeemed prescriptions registered in the DNPR during the 2 year ...[more]

PMID: 35834287

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Dataset Information

Free-of-charge dispensing of antipsychotics for schizophrenia in Denmark: Impact on the nationwide prescription registry and redemption of somatic medications.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Free-of-charge dispensing of antipsychotics for schizophrenia in Denmark: Impact on the nationwide prescription registry and redemption of somatic medications.

Similar Datasets

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