Prescription Patterns for Bipolar Disorder in Asian Countries: Findings from Research on Asian Prescription Pattern-Bipolar Disorder
Issued Date
2022-02-01
Resource Type
ISSN
17381088
eISSN
20934327
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85124493717
Journal Title
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
Volume
20
Issue
1
Start Page
61
End Page
69
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience Vol.20 No.1 (2022) , 61-69
Suggested Citation
Lin S.K. Prescription Patterns for Bipolar Disorder in Asian Countries: Findings from Research on Asian Prescription Pattern-Bipolar Disorder. Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience Vol.20 No.1 (2022) , 61-69. 69. doi:10.9758/CPN.2022.20.1.61 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/86148
Title
Prescription Patterns for Bipolar Disorder in Asian Countries: Findings from Research on Asian Prescription Pattern-Bipolar Disorder
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre
Chang Gung University School of Medicine
Faculty of Health Sciences
Siriraj Hospital
Graduate School of Medical Sciences
The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University
Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Hanyang University Guri Hospital
University of Yangon
Services Institute of Medical Sciences Lahore
Universitas Airlangga
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Taipei City Hospital Taiwan
Kuala Lumpur Hospital
Seinan Gakuin University
National University of Singapore
Kaohsiung Medical University
Singapore Institute of Mental Health
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh
Association for the Improvement of Mental Health Programmes
Shu-Zen Junior College of Medicine and Management
Pakistan Psychiatric Research Centre
Jianan Psychiatric Center
Bugok National Hospital
Kajang Hospital
Chang Gung University School of Medicine
Faculty of Health Sciences
Siriraj Hospital
Graduate School of Medical Sciences
The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University
Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Hanyang University Guri Hospital
University of Yangon
Services Institute of Medical Sciences Lahore
Universitas Airlangga
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Taipei City Hospital Taiwan
Kuala Lumpur Hospital
Seinan Gakuin University
National University of Singapore
Kaohsiung Medical University
Singapore Institute of Mental Health
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh
Association for the Improvement of Mental Health Programmes
Shu-Zen Junior College of Medicine and Management
Pakistan Psychiatric Research Centre
Jianan Psychiatric Center
Bugok National Hospital
Kajang Hospital
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Objective: Pharmacotherapy including mood stabilizers and antipsychotics are frequently used in bipolar disorder (BD); however, the lack of consensus regarding the definition of polypharmacy hinders conducting comparative studies across different settings and countries. Research on Asian Prescription Pattern (REAP) is the largest and the longest lasting international collaborative research in psychiatry in Asia. The objective of REAP BD was to investigate the prescription patterns of psychotropic medications across Asian countries. The rates of polypharmacy and psychotropic drug load were also analyzed. Methods: The data collection was web-based. Prescription patterns were categorized as (1) mood stabilizer monotherapy: one mood stabilizer; (2) antipsychotic monotherapy: one antipsychotic; (3) simple polypharmacy: one mood stabilizer and one antipsychotic; and (4) complex polypharmacy: ≥ 2 mood stabilizers or/and antipsychotics. The psychotropic drug load in each patient was calculated using the defined daily dose method. Results: Among 2003 patients with BD (52.1% female, 42.4 years) from 12 countries, 1,619 (80.8%) patients received mood stabilizers, 1,644 (82.14%) received antipsychotics, and 424 (21.2%) received antidepressants, with 14.7% mood stabilizer monotherapy, 13.4% antipsychotic monotherapy, 48.9% simple polypharmacy, 20.3% complex polypharmacy, and 2.6% other therapy. The average psychotropic drug load was 2.05 ± 1.40. Results varied widely between countries. Conclusion: Over 70% of psychotropic regimens involved polypharmacy, which accords with the high prevalence of polypharmacy in BD under a permissive criterion (2 or more core psychotropic drugs) worldwide. Notably, ≥ 80% of our sample received antipsychotics, which may indicate an increasing trend in antipsychotic use for BD treatment.