Comparisons of psychotropic drug prescribing patterns in acute psychiatric wards across Europe

Objective: To compare prescribed daily doses (PDDs) of psychotropic drugs in several European centres. Method: A one-day census of psychotropic drug prescriptions to 613 patients in 39 acute psychiatric wards in ten countries. Results: Patients in Spain were on most drugs; patients in Germany were on the fewest. Chlorpromazine equivalents in Denmark, England, Germany and Spain were at high levels as were diazepam equivalents in Belgium, Finland, The Netherlands and Norway. Newer anti-psychotics were used in the majority of centres, although older anti-psychotics were used commonly in three centres. Conclusion: The high doses of psychotropic drugs patients receive in some centres may be having little additional therapeutic effect and could increase their risk of side effects. The use of older anti-psychotics in some centres may be causing side effects that could be reduced by using newer anti-psychotics.