BACKGROUND Drug-induced increase in QT dispersion has been associated with potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias. Little is known about the use of psychotropic substances, alone or in combination with other drugs on QT dispersion. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the impact of psychotropic drugs on QT interval dispersion in adults. METHODS An observational cohort study was designed involving 161 ...

This study aims to examine trends in outpatient psychotropic drug use among people with intellectual disabilities in Taiwan. The NHI outpatient medication records between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2007 for people with intellectual disabilities were analyzed to observe the percent change, prevalence and prescription trends in psychotropic drugs. The overall prevalence of psychotropic medi...

Reports of sudden unexpected death in pediatric patients taking selected psychotropic drugs have raised the possibility of ventricular dysrhythmias as the cause of these deaths. The use of psychotropic drugs in the pediatric population has increased significantly in recent years with increasing reports of electrocardiogram abnormalities, particularly prolongation of the corrected QT interval. M...

Of 230 adults admitted for self poisoning over two months, 153 (67%) had previously been taking a total of 309 prescribed drugs. Of these patients, 119 (78%) had been given psychotropic drugs (usually benzodiazepines), 81 (53%) obtained them on repeat prescription, and 47 (31%) had been prescribed multiple psychotropic drugs, often in seemingly illogical combinations. The use of these drugs inc...

BACKGROUND Development of pharmacological treatment in mental disorders has risen drastically over the past decade in Taiwan. We performed a survey of the National Health Insurance claims for outpatient psychiatric services to study the utilization of psychotropic drugs. The analysis followed the drug classification and standardized measurements proposed by the World Health Organization. METH...

The current wave of interest in pharmacokinetics of psychotropic drugs has its origins in the writings of Brodie in the years between 1960 and 1970 (for review see Brodie, 1967). Strictly speaking, the science of pharmacokinetics is concerned with rates of transfer of drug molecules within the body. Less strictly, it is the study of drug concentrations in plasma. A lifetime of research in drug ...

Study objectives: To compare the regular use of psychotropic drugs in 1985 and 1996 in homes for the aged in Bergen, Norway and to study the relation between age, gender, mental impairment and certain behaviour traits and psychotropic drug use. Design: A point prevalence survey performed on two occasions in 1985 and 1996. Setting: All regularly used psychotropic drugs and demographic informatio...