TY - JOUR
T1 - Italian prescribing patterns in obsessive-compulsive disorder
AU - Marazziti, Donatella
AU - Albert, Umberto
AU - Dell'Osso, Bernardo
AU - Tundo, Antonio
AU - Cuniberti, Francesco
AU - Maina, Giuseppe
AU - Moroni, Ilenia
AU - Benatti, Beatrice
AU - Mucci, Federico
AU - Massimetti, Gabriele
AU - Piccinni, Armando
AU - Brakoulias, Vlasios
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - The aim of the present study was to investigate psychopharmacological prescribing patterns in a large sample (n = 1815) of patients suffering from obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) recruited in 4 Italian centers specialized in OCD, in comparison to available national and international guidelines. The centers were asked to complete a specific data sheet questionnaire on patients' therapeutic status. Statistical analyses were carried out by SPSS. The results showed that almost all patients referred to the centers of Milan, Pisa and Rome received psychotropic medications, whereas only 59.9% (313) did so in Turin. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were the most used drugs ranging between 49.0% and 71.5%. Clomipramine was prescribed more often in Rome and Pisa than in Milan and Turin. The same was true for other tricyclic antidepressants. Second-generation antipsychotics were more often prescribed in Pisa and in Milan. Mood stabilizers were almost exclusively used in Pisa. Taken together, the overall findings would suggest that, although the main Italian centers specialized in OCD follow available guidelines, a certain degree of variability does exist. This may depend on the different educational background, availability of other specific therapeutic strategies, as well as varying levels of severity and comorbidity of the patients.
AB - The aim of the present study was to investigate psychopharmacological prescribing patterns in a large sample (n = 1815) of patients suffering from obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) recruited in 4 Italian centers specialized in OCD, in comparison to available national and international guidelines. The centers were asked to complete a specific data sheet questionnaire on patients' therapeutic status. Statistical analyses were carried out by SPSS. The results showed that almost all patients referred to the centers of Milan, Pisa and Rome received psychotropic medications, whereas only 59.9% (313) did so in Turin. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were the most used drugs ranging between 49.0% and 71.5%. Clomipramine was prescribed more often in Rome and Pisa than in Milan and Turin. The same was true for other tricyclic antidepressants. Second-generation antipsychotics were more often prescribed in Pisa and in Milan. Mood stabilizers were almost exclusively used in Pisa. Taken together, the overall findings would suggest that, although the main Italian centers specialized in OCD follow available guidelines, a certain degree of variability does exist. This may depend on the different educational background, availability of other specific therapeutic strategies, as well as varying levels of severity and comorbidity of the patients.
KW - Italy
KW - obsessive, compulsive disorder
KW - psychopharmacology
KW - treatment
UR - http://handle.westernsydney.edu.au:8081/1959.7/uws:50463
U2 - 10.1002/hup.2641
DO - 10.1002/hup.2641
M3 - Article
SN - 0885-6222
VL - 32
JO - Human Psychopharmacology
JF - Human Psychopharmacology
IS - 6
M1 - e2641
ER -