Skip to main content

Table 2 Frequency of distribution of responses to questions about prescribing practices for patients with schizophrenia

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