Gender differences in metabolic monitoring of second-generation antipsychotic prescription

✍ Scribed by Hélène Verdoux; Sophie Boulon; Audrey Cougnard

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 59 KB
• Volume: 23
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6222
• DOI: 10.1002/hup.956

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Objective

To explore whether guidelines for metabolic monitoring of patients receiving second‐generation antipsychotics (SGAP) are respected in clinical practice, and whether patients' and prescribers' characteristics are associated with adequacy of metabolic monitoring.

Method

Survey questionnaires were mailed to all state hospital psychiatrists practising in South‐Western France. Psychiatrists were asked to give information on the baseline metabolic screening of the last patient seen with first prescription of a SGAP. Adequacy of metabolic monitoring was assessed according to published guidelines.

Results

No metabolic parameter was assessed before SGAP onset in more than one out of four patients, and fewer than 5% had a complete baseline assessment of metabolic parameters. The number of parameters assessed was markedly lower in women compared to men.

Conclusion

Efforts should focus on initial training as well as on continuing medical education in order to improve level of awareness about the need for adequate baseline screening monitoring, and about the fact that women treated with SGAP are also at risk of metabolic disturbances. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.