Exploring Psychotropic Trends of Medication Use in Psychiatric Outpatients: An Observational Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Year : 2025 | Volume : 15 | Issue : 02 | Page : 15 23
    By

    Bhavana Reddy Bommireddy,

  • Dr. Sushma Muchukota,

  • Varshita Pattar,

  • G. Jyoteshwari,

  1. Research Scholar, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Raghavendra Institute of Pharmacy Education & Research (RIPER), Autonomous, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India
  2. Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Aditya Bangalore Institute of Pharmacy Education and Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
  3. Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Vidya Siri College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  4. Student, Department of Pharmacy, Gautham College of Pharmacy, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Background: Psychotropic medications are essential in managing a wide range of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Prescribing habits in outpatient clinics can differ a lot depending on things like the patient’s age, background, and medical conditions. Aim: This study aims to explore the trends in psychotropic medication use among psychiatric outpatients at a tertiary care hospital, with a focus on understanding prescribing patterns, demographic factors, and their association with different psychiatric disorders. Methods: Researchers conducted a cross-sectional observational study on psychiatric outpatients at a tertiary care hospital’s psychiatry department. A total of 210 patients were included, and data were gathered from medical records, covering details like age, gender, education, psychiatric diagnoses, and prescribed psychotropic medications. Results: The mean age of the sample was 35.4 years (SD = 12.3), with 52.4% males and 47.6% females. Major depressive disorder (45.2%) was the most common diagnosis, followed by anxiety disorders (23.8%), bipolar disorder (16.7%), and schizophrenia (14.3%). Antidepressants were the most frequently prescribed class of psychotropic medications (57.1%), followed by antipsychotics (35.7%), anxiolytics (31.0%), and mood stabilizers (21.4%). Polypharmacy was observed in 52.4% of the patients, with 16.7% receiving three or more medications simultaneously. This analysis revealed significant associations between specific psychiatric diagnoses and the use of medication classes, such as antidepressants for major depressive disorder (P = 0.001) and antipsychotics for schizophrenia (P = 0.010). Conclusion: This study highlighted the important trends in psychotropic medication prescribing among psychiatric outpatients at a tertiary care hospital. Antidepressants were the most prescribed medications, reflecting the high prevalence of mood disorders, particularly depression. The findings also indicated a notable occurrence of polypharmacy, which raises concerns regarding potential drug interactions and the importance of careful medication management. Adherence to clinical guidelines and regular monitoring of patients on multiple medications are essential for optimizing treatment outcomes.

Keywords: Psychotropic medications, major depressive disorder, Schizophrenia, mood stabilizers, management

[This article belongs to Research and Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology ]

How to cite this article:
Bhavana Reddy Bommireddy, Dr. Sushma Muchukota, Varshita Pattar, G. Jyoteshwari. Exploring Psychotropic Trends of Medication Use in Psychiatric Outpatients: An Observational Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital. Research and Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology. 2025; 15(02):15-23.
How to cite this URL:
Bhavana Reddy Bommireddy, Dr. Sushma Muchukota, Varshita Pattar, G. Jyoteshwari. Exploring Psychotropic Trends of Medication Use in Psychiatric Outpatients: An Observational Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital. Research and Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology. 2025; 15(02):15-23. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rrjot/article=2025/view=210144


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Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 15
Issue 02
Received 04/03/2025
Accepted 18/03/2025
Published 14/05/2025
Publication Time 71 Days
118

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