ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether patients with a discharge diagnosis of bipolar depression were prescribed medications that are in accordance with evidence-based treatment guidelines and are FDA-approved for bipolar depression. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to assess prescribing of evidence-based therapies for patients discharged between November 2007 and August 2010 with a diagnosis code of BPD at the time of discharge. The primary objective of the study was to determine if evidence-based medications were prescribed at the time of discharge. Secondary objectives included analysis of other medications used, concomitant disease states and drug therapy, rate of readmission, and rate of therapeutic drug monitoring. RESULTS: Of 294 patients, 170 (58%) were prescribed evidence-based medications upon discharge. The most commonly used medication was quetiapine. The most commonly prescribed off-label medications were atypical antipsychotics. For patients on antipsychotics, rates of appropriate monitoring were variable. Seventy percent of patients receiving lithium had a therapeutic concentration prior to discharge. Differences in rates of readmission between groups were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of prescribing evidence-based medications at discharge for patients with BPD were low. Additionally, evidence-based monitoring for specific medications was variable. Future studies reviewing treatment course and illness severity may provide more information about appropriate medication use in patients with BPD.
Subject(s)
Bipolar Disorder/drug therapy , Bipolar Disorder/psychology , Evidence-Based Medicine/standards , Inpatients/psychology , Medication Adherence/psychology , Practice Guidelines as Topic/standards , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Bipolar Disorder/diagnosis , Evidence-Based Medicine/trends , Female , Hospitals, Psychiatric/standards , Hospitals, Psychiatric/trends , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Discharge/standards , Patient Discharge/trends , Retrospective Studies , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: A retrospective study was conducted to assess the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) using urinalyses (UA)s at a psychiatric hospital. METHOD: Patients admitted between July 2010 and June 2011 receiving at least one UA during inpatient psychiatric hospitalization were included. Pregnant patients and those with a UA receiving antibiotic treatment in the emergency department were excluded. The primary objective of the study was to characterize and assess the appropriateness of UAs ordered for the diagnosis of UTIs. Secondary objectives included analyzing frequency of cultures obtained, appropriateness of empiric antibiotics, and de-escalation of therapy if warranted. RESULTS: Thirty-nine percent (n = 891/2292) of patients admitted received a UA at least once during their hospitalization. Of 203 patients further evaluated, 78% were asymptomatic, 11% were older than 65 years of age with altered mental status (AMS) or dementia, and 11% had typical UTI symptoms. Thirty-one patients were given antibiotics for a UTI during their stay, with a majority of those being asymptomatic (n = 19/31). CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of UAs ordered at a psychiatric hospital were inappropriate. When patients were treated, empiric antibiotic selection and length of treatment were appropriate in most instances.