Original scientific paper

PSYCHIATRISTS’ PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG PRESCRIPTION PREFERENCES FOR THEMSELVES OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS

Milan Latas ; Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Tihomir Stojkovic ; Belgrade University Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia
Tijana Ralic ; Belgrade University Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia
Srdjan Milovanovic ; Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Miroslava Jasovic-Gasic ; Belgrade University Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia

Abstract

Background: Psychiatrists' preference for certain medications is not only determined by their efficacy and side effect profile but
may also depend on the psychiatrists' beliefs about specific therapeutic effects based on their own observation and experience. We
aimed to evaluate which antipsychotic or antidepressant drugs psychiatrists would prefer for themselves, their partners and children
in case of a mental illness.
Subjects and methods: The study was conducted among psychiatrists in Serbia. The sample consisted of 90 psychiatrists who
were asked to complete the questionnaire about their drug selection in hypothetical situations of becoming ill with schizophrenia or
depression or these conditions occurring in their partners and children.
Results: In case of schizophrenia, risperidone was the first choice made by most psychiatrists for themselves, their partners or
children, followed by clozapine, haloperidol and olanzapine. In case of depression, SSRIs and SNRIs were generally favored, with
sertraline and escitalopram being the preferred medications for psychiatrists, partners and their children. With regards to
depression, 82.3% of participants would opt for an antidepressant as monotherapy or in combination, but 13.3% would opt for
anxiolytic monotherapy. The preferred doses were slightly lower than the recommended ones, especially for antipsychotic agents.
Conclusions: Most psychiatrists would take or administer atypical antipsychotics or SSRIs as the first choice for themselves,
their partners or children. These preferences are mostly in accordance with current treatment guidelines, but there is still room to
narrow the gap between guideline recommendations and psychiatrists' medication choices in personally meaningful situations.

Keywords

antipsychotics; antidepressants; SSRI; anxiolytics; psychiatrists; drug

Hrčak ID:

106221

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/106221

Publication date:

24.6.2012.

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