Use of antipsychotic drugs in monotherapy is considered the standard treatment for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Nevertheless, exist numerous studies that show as the polypharmacy with antipsyhotics (PA) is much more frequent than it would be expected attending to experts recommendations.

The objective is to compare the prescription habits, in reference to the PA as well as to other psychotropic drugs, of 8 psychiatrists of a Psychiatric Hospitalization Unit.

Review of the psychotropic drugs prescribed as maintenance treatment in schizophrenia patients (n=200) at outcome in 2005.

55,5% of 200 studied patients were registered with PA. This frequency oscillates between 78% and the 33,3% based on the psychiatrist. The patients received an average of 3,06 (DS 1,26) of psychotropic drugs; rank between 2,69 (DS 1,10) and 3,38 (DS 0,52) in relation to the psychiatrist. As maintenance treatment at outcome, it was prescribed an average of 1.61 (DS 0.65) of antipsychotics, rank 1.33 (DS 0,49) – 2,00 (DS 0.7). 33,2% patients received anticholinergics (17,1%-100% according to psychiatrist). Benzodiazepines were prescribed to 62,2% of patients (17,1%-100%). Mood stabilizer in the 16,7% of the cases (8%-41%). It is observed that those psychiatrists who use more PA use less benzodiazepines and anticholinergics.

PA extended practice in spite of therapeutic guides recommendations. Although differences between the psychiatrists from the study are observed, most of the patients have 3 psychotropic drugs as maintenance treatment at outcome: 1 or 2 antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and anticholinergic drugs.