Antipsychotic utilization in the intensive care unit and in transitions of care.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to quantify the rate at which newly initiated antipsychotic therapy is continued on discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU) and describe risk factors for continuation post-ICU discharge.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of all patients receiving an antipsychotic in the ICUs of a large academic medical center from January 1, 2005, to October 31, 2011. Medical record review was conducted to ascertain whether a patient was newly started on antipsychotic therapy and whether therapy was continued post-ICU discharge.