Polypharmacy is broadly defined as the administration of more than one medication in a single patient, with the most commonly used definition indicating the concurrent use of five or more medications. Polypharmacy occurs in most clinical settings, particularly inpatient settings and treatment settings for persons with chronic illness and the elderly. Reasons for receiving more than one medication include ineffective treatment with monotherapy, targeting specific but varied symptoms, treating two distinct but co-morbid illnesses, addressing unremitting symptoms, and treating extrapyramidal side effects. Research indicates that each medication added to the patient’s regimen increases the likelihood of an adverse outcome, as well as the risk of adverse drug reactions, drug-to-drug interactions, cumulative toxicity, medication errors, patient non-compliance, patient morbidity, and patient mortality. The current study seeks to investigate the rates of polypharmacy and related characteristics predictive of polypharmacy within a forensic psychiatric setting. A total of 182 patients residing in a secure forensic psychiatric hospital were selected. The sample is predominantly male (80.8%, n=147) and majority Caucasian (55.5%, n=101), African American (40.1%, n=73), and Hispanic (2.2%, n=4), with a mean age of 43.5 (SD=13.2). Participants range from persons with at least one mental health disorder (100%, n=182) to persons with at least one chronic illness (74.5%, n=132). Of those currently taking medications, 99.2% have been prescribed more than one type of medication, with 93.1% of those individuals being prescribed four or more. Polypharmacy was observed in 91% of participants. Of those diagnosed with a mood or psychotic disorder, an average of 3.6 different types of psychotropic medications were prescribed. Co-morbidity of mental illness was predictive of polypharmacy trends, F(1,181)=5.28, p<.05. Additionally, individuals with at least one chronic illness also were subjected to polypharmacy practices, with rates increasing for those with more than one chronic illness. As a measure of onset and severity of symptoms, age at first hospitalization and age of onset of aggressive behaviors were measured, and, interestingly, both measures were predictive of polypharmacy within these patients, F(1, 181)=13.45, p<.01. Results indicate that perceived severity of symptomology, aggression, and complex health problems all contribute to polypharmacy practices among prescribing physicians. The high rates of polypharmacy observed are concerning because of the potential for increased aversive health outcomes. Understanding the predictive factors, rates, and trends of polypharmacy has valuable implications for the future treatment and rehabilitation of individuals residing in a forensic psychiatric setting.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ETSU/oai:dc.etsu.edu:etsu-works-9203 |
| Date | 07 April 2016 |
| Creators | LeMay, Carrie C., Stinson, Jill D., Eisenbrandt, Lydia L., Smith, Courtney, Quinn, Megan |
| Publisher | Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University |
| Source Sets | East Tennessee State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Source | ETSU Faculty Works |
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