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PRESCRIPTION PATTERN OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS IN A PSYCHIATRY OPD OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL – A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.

Background: The expanding and challenging eld of psychopharmacology is constantly seeking new
and improved drugs to treat psychiatric disorders. Psychotropic drugs utilization in actual clinical
practice, effectiveness and safety in the real-life situation needs continuous study. Therefore, the study was undertaken to
analyze the prescription pattern of psychotropic drugs.
Methods: A Cross sectional study was conducted in the psychiatry out-patient department of a tertiary care hospital for 4
months. Diagnosis was made according to ICD-10 criteria. Prescription pattern was analyzed using World Health Organization
(WHO) drug indicators.
Results: Psychotropic drugs constituted 74.85% of the prescribed medication. Average number of the psychotropic drugs per
prescription was 2.53. Percentage of prescriptions with injectable drugs accounted for 5.13%. 59.28% of the drugs were
prescribed by generic names, while the rest were branded. 28% of prescriptions contained psychotropic FDCs (Fixed dose
th combination). 78.65% of the drugs were from the WHO's 18 List of Essential Medicines. Among the total psychotropic drugs
prescribed, antipsychotics (43.87%) were the most commonly prescribed class of drugs followed by antidepressants (23.32%),
anxiolytics (22.13%) and the mood stabilizers (9.88%) were the least.
Conclusions: Prescription pattern of the psychotropic drugs were in accordance to the recommendations of various treatment
guidelines. Antipsychotics were the most commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs.