Trends in and Predictors of Long-Term Antipsychotic Polypharmacy Use Among Ohio Medicaid Patients with Schizophrenia, 2008-2014.

Objective: The study examined trends and patterns in long-term antipsychotic polypharmacy among Ohio Medicaid patients with schizophrenia and predictors of use.

Methods: A study using a retrospective cohort design and Medicaid claims data was conducted for a cohort of 25,062 adults with a schizophrenic disorder receiving antipsychotic medication between 2008 and 2014. Long-term antipsychotic polypharmacy was defined as simultaneous treatment with two or more antipsychotic medications for ≥90 days.

Benzodiazepine use and risk of mortality among patients with schizophrenia: a retrospective longitudinal study.

Objective: This study examined the association between benzodiazepine use alone or in combination with antipsychotics and risk of mortality in patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: A retrospective longitudinal analysis was performed using Medicaid claims data merged with death certificate data for 18,953 patients (aged 18-58 years) with ICD-9-diagnosed schizophrenia followed from July 1, 2006, to December 31, 2013. Cox proportional hazard analyses were used to estimate the risk of all-cause mortality associated with benzodiazepine use; adjustment was made for a wide array of fixed and time-varying confounders, including demographics, psychiatric and medical comorbidities, and other psychotropic medications.

Factors Associated With Timely Follow-Up Care After Psychiatric Hospitalization for Youths With Mood Disorders.

Objectives: This study identified patient-, hospital-, and community-level factors associated with timely follow-up care following psychiatric hospitalization for children and adolescents with mood disorders.

Methods: The patients were 7,826 youths (ages six to 17) admitted to psychiatric hospitals with a primary diagnosis of mood disorder (July 2009-November 2010). Outcome variables were defined as one or more mental health visits within seven days and 30 days of psychiatric hospitalization.

Quality of care for Medicaid-enrolled youth with bipolar disorders.

This study examined conformance to clinical practice guidelines for children and adolescents with bipolar disorders and identified patient and provider factors associated with guideline concordant care. Administrative records were examined for 4,047 Medicaid covered youth aged 5-18 years with new episodes of bipolar disorder during 2006-2010. Main outcome measures included 5 claims-based quality of care measures reflecting national treatment guidelines.