Patient records were examined using the Electronic Patient Journey System to obtain demographic data, documented reasoning for coprescription and prior prescribing information. Clinical outcome and adverse effects were also obtained from notes. Where documented, information regarding prescriber considerations to remove one of the antipsychotics or switch to clozapine was included. Prescription of high-dose antipsychotic

polypharmacy was calculated using aggregated percentages of British National Formulary (BNF) maximum doses. Patients receiving greater than 100% cumulatively were considered to be on high-dose medication. Results Patient demographics Around 288 (10%) patients were receiving antipsychotic polypharmacy (versus monotherapy), Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical of whom 38 (13%) satisfied

the criteria above. A total of 31 patients (81.6%) were diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical disorder. Of the remaining 7 patients, 6 patients (15.8%) had a diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder and 1 patient (2.6%) had borderline personality disorder. Their mean age was 47.2 years (standard deviation = 10.7, range 26–71) and 26 (68%) were male. A total of 15 (39.5%) subjects were White British; 9 (23.7%) Caribbean; 7 (18.4%) Black British; and 3 (7.9%) African. The remaining 4 (10.5%) patients were classified as Black and White, Mixed Black, White and Black Caribbean and Pakistani. Prior Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical antipsychotic prescribing patterns Figure 1 illustrates the total number of antipsychotics (excluding clozapine) patients Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical had been trialled on before initiation of polypharmacy regimes. Figure 1. Total number of antipsychotics

previously prescribed (excluding clozapine). Prior to initiation of antipsychotic polypharmacy, 9 patients (24%) had been prescribed two or more antipsychotics concurrently and 16 (48%) had been trialled on clozapine monotherapy. A total of 15 patients (39%) had received monotherapy trials of Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical at least three antipsychotics, one of which included clozapine. Of the remaining 22 subjects (52%) who had never used clozapine, the drug was considered in 4 subjects (11%), 3 of whom refused due to concerns over potential Thymidine kinase adverse effects and the requirement of http://www.selleckchem.com/products/INCB18424.html regular blood testing. No documented reason was found for the remaining subject. Documented reasons for coprescribing The reasons for coprescribing (as shown in Table 1) were documented for 29 subjects (76.3%). For 9 patients (23.7%), no reason was found. Table 1. Documented reasons for coprescribing. Antipsychotic polypharmacy combinations The duration that subjects had been maintained on antipsychotic polypharmacy ranged from 6 months to greater than 9 years. Typical–atypical and atypical–atypical antipsychotic combinations were prescribed equally to 34 patients (89%). The sequencing of antipsychotic combination therapy was documented in 32 patients (76%). In three subjects, two antipsychotics were initiated concurrently.