Drug treatment modalities in psychiatric inpatient practice: a 20-year comparison.

Objectives: The present study investigated whether the increased number of psychotropic agents available in Italy in the last 20 years increased the proportion of inpatients being treated with individual medication classes and the proportion receiving combined treatments with agents of the same class or of different classes.

Methods: This study was conducted in South-Verona, Italy. From the local Psychiatric Case Register (PCR) all patients consecutively admitted to the inpatient unit during the years 1981/1982, 1991/92 and 2001/02 were extracted.

Impact of regulatory changes on first- and second-generation antipsychotic drug consumption and expenditure in Italy.

Background: In 1994 a change in drug reimbursement status was implemented in Italy according to cost-effectiveness criteria. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of these changes on the use of antipsychotic (AP) drugs.

Methods: Data concerning actual quantities of antipsychotic agents dispensed in Italy from 1995 to June 2003 were obtained from the Italian Ministry of Health.

Are we going to increase the use of antidepressants up to that of benzodiazepines?

Objective: The present study compared recent trends in benzodiazepine and antidepressant consumption in Italy and projected their global sales in the future. We investigated whether the increasing use of antidepressants is associated with a progressive reduction in benzodiazepine use.

Methods: Data concerning actual quantities of benzodiazepines and antidepressants dispensed in Italy from 1995 to June 2003 were obtained from IMS Health.

Off-label and non-classical prescriptions of antipsychotic agents in ordinary in-patient practice.

Objective: To estimate the proportion of off-label prescriptions of antipsychotics (APs) in ordinary in-patient practice.

Method: From the South-Verona Psychiatric Case Register all admissions to the in-patient unit during 2001-02 were extracted. Prescriptions of APs were defined off-label when dispensed outside the licensed indications.