@article{ref1,
title="Off-label prescribing of psychotropics in a psychiatric patient population in Australia",
journal="Australasian psychiatry",
year="2024",
author="Kyrios, Mietta and Levido, Jesse and Talbot, Daniel and Harris, Anthony",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the practice of off-label prescribing in both in- and outpatient psychiatry practice. <br><br>METHODS: One-hundred inpatient and 100 outpatient medical records from adult patients of an Australian psychiatry service from 2020 to 2021 were examined to determine the prevalence of off-label prescribing as defined by Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) indications, adherence to Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) treatment guidelines, frequency of off-label prescription, and the quality of documentation and informed consent process. <br><br>RESULTS: Most prescribing events in both in- and outpatient settings were either on-label or off-label but consistent with RANZCP guidelines. Patients with a schizoaffective disorder diagnosis or displaying aggression were most likely to receive off-label prescriptions. There was no significant difference between in- and outpatient groups in the quality of documentation or consent process. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: In general, off-label prescribing across groups was common, but many decisions were then in line with RANZCP recommendations. That there is a discrepancy between clinical and regulatory bodies has implications for how off-label status is decided.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1039-8562",
doi="10.1177/10398562241237659",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10398562241237659"
}