Antipsychotic prescribing in light of the consensus statement of the College

Abstract

A retrospective survey was undertaken to evaluate the prescribing practices of medical staff in a District General Hospital in light of theConsensus Statementby the Royal College of Psychiatrists on the use of high dose antipsychotics (1993). Two per cent of 247 patients were prescribed a higher than recommended dose of antipsychotic. None of these cases had been prescribed ‘supra-BNFdoses of antipsychotic on a regular basis, but with the addition of ‘as required’ (PRN) medication the recommended dose was exceeded. In only one patient was the high dosage administered. A further analysis of these patients is made.