P0137 - Change of prescripton patterns for bipolar disorder in a clinical setting: A 6 year longitudinal survey

Abstract

Objective:

A Survey of changes in prescription patterns for Bipolar Disorder in a clinical setting and of coherence to therapy guidelines..

Methods:

We collected data about demographic variables, diagnosis and discharge medication of all patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder admitted to the University Clinic for Psychiatry I, Salzburg, between January 2002 and October 2007.

Results:

679 bipolar patients (373 female / 306 male) with a total number of 3217 admissions to our hospital during an observational period of almost 6 years were included in the survey.

Results and Conclusions:

Since 2002, a substantial change of prescription patterns in bipolar patients has taken place, with a trend towards valproate and atypical antipsychotics and against lithium and typical antipsychotics. Modern antidepressants are routinely used in the treatment of bipolar depression. Combination strategies of two or more compounds are common. In general, adherence to treatment guidelines was high with the possible exception of very frequent use of antidepressants in bipolar depression.