From: Tackling myths of common prescribing patterns in schizophrenia amongst Egyptian psychiatrists
 | N = 124 | % |
---|---|---|
Q1 When first prescribing an antipsychotic drug to a patient with schizophrenia, most of the time your choice is primarily guided by: | ||
a- Your own experience | 23 | 18.5 |
b- Guidelines | 40 | 32.3 |
c- Cost of the drug | 11 | 8.9 |
d- Patient choice | 0 | 0 |
e- Patients clinical profile | 49 | 39.5 |
f- Other | 1 | 0.8 |
Q2 If cost was not an issue, what would be your preferred first line antipsychotic of choice for a patient with schizophrenia: | ||
a- Oral typical antipsychotic drug | 8 | 6.5 |
b- Oral atypical antipsychotic drug | 96 | 77.4 |
c- Combination of oral antipsychotics (eg typical+atypical, 2 typicals, 2 atypicals) | 6 | 4.8 |
d- Depot antipsychotic—typical/atypical (circle one if preferred) | 3 | 2.4 |
f- Oral+depot | 1 | 0.8 |
g- Clozapine | 0 | 0 |
h- No particular preference. | 5 | 4.0 |
g- Other | 5 | 4.0 |
Q3 When prescribing a first line antipsychotic for a patient with schizophrenia, your starting dose is: | ||
a- The minimum effective antipsychotic dose of the drug. | 68 | 54.8 |
b- A moderate antipsychotic dose of the drug. | 50 | 40.3 |
c- The maximum antipsychotic dose of the drug. | 4 | 3.2 |
Other | 2 | 1.6 |
Q4 Which of the following most closely reflects your practice in schizophrenia? | ||
a- I never combine two or more antipsychotic drugs (eg typical+atypical, 2 typicals, 2 atypicals). | 8 | 6.5 |
b- I commonly combine two or more antipsychotic drugs. | 35 | 28.2 |
c- In some situations, I can combine two or more antipsychotic drugs. | 80 | 64.5 |
d- Not stated | 1 | 0.8 |
Q5 Which of the following most closely reflects your practice in schizophrenia? | ||
a- I never prescribe antipsychotic medications above the maximum dose. | 104 | 83.9 |
b- I commonly prescribe antipsychotic medications above the maximum dose. | 3 | 2.4 |
c- In some situations, I prescribe antipsychotic medications above the maximum dose. | 15 | 12.1 |
d- Other | 2 | 1.6 |
Q6 In your practice, when do you most commonly consider prescribing clozapine in schizophrenia: | ||
a- Never | 4 | 3.2 |
b- First line | 1 | 0.8 |
c- Second line | 15 | 12.1 |
d- Third line | 74 | 59.7 |
e- Other | 30 | 24.2 |
Q7 Which of the following most closely reflects your practice? | ||
a- When prescribing antipsychotic drugs, I commonly add an anticholinergic from the start | 53 | 42.7 |
b- When prescribing antipsychotic drugs, I never add an anticholinergic from the start | 12 | 9.7 |
c- In some situations, I will add an anticholinergic from the start | 56 | 45.2 |
d- Other/not stated | 3 | 2.4 |
Q8 Which of the following most closely reflects your practice? | ||
a- If I start an anticholinergic, I mostly maintain patients on them for as long as they are receiving an antipsychotic | 62 | 50.0 |
b- If I start an anticholinergic, I mostly discontinue them after several weeks while continuing to maintain the patient on an antipsychotic. | 58 | 46.8 |
c- Other/not stated | 4 | 3.2 |
Q9 Which of the following most closely reflects your practice? | ||
a- I never combine typical depot antipsychotic with an oral atypical antipsychotic | 6 | 4.8 |
b- I commonly combine typical depot antipsychotic with an oral atypical antipsychotic. | 47 | 37.9 |
c- In some situations I combine typical depot antipsychotic with an oral atypical antipsychotic. | 69 | 55.6 |
d- Other/not stated | 2 | 1.6 |
Q10 Which of the following most closely reflects your practice? | ||
a- I never prescribe an antipsychotic in a small dose for sedation. | 12 | 9.7 |
b- I commonly prescribe an antipsychotic in a small dose for sedation. | 55 | 44.4 |
c- I sometimes prescribe an antipsychotic in a small dose for sedation. | 55 | 44.4 |
other/not stated | 2 | 1.6 |
Q11 Do you add a mood stabilizer to enhance the effect of the antipsychotics? | ||
a- I never add a mood stabilizer to enhance the effect of antipsychotic drugs | 39 | 31.5 |
b- I commonly add a mood stabilizer to enhance the effect of antipsychotic drugs | 13 | 10.5 |
c- I sometimes add a mood stabilizer to enhance the effect of antipsychotic drugs | 69 | 55.6 |
d- Other/not stated | 3 | 2.4 |
Q12 Do you refer to any specific treatment guidelines for your prescribing? | ||
a- No | 44 | 35.5 |
b- Yes | 73 | 58.9 |
c- Other/not stated | 7 | 5.6 |