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Influences on psychotropic drug prescription in a psychiatric service

Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee

Brian R. Ballinger, Consultant Psychiatrist^*

Royal Dundee Liff Hospital, Dundee DD2 5NF

George W. Fenton, Professor of Psychiatry

Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee

^* Correspondence

Prescriptions for psychotropic drugs for in-patients in the Dundee Psychiatric Service were studied for three five-month periods in 1991, 1992 and 1993 using computer data and drug sheets. Information about journal advertising and advice to doctors was obtained for the same period. A possible effect of journal advertising was detected in the first year but there was no further increase in the second year in the total of prescriptions. Information is presented of a similar survey in 1975 and 1976. A high proportion of prescriptions was for formulary drugs and doctors rated the British National Formulary as the strongest influence on their prescribing.