A survey of psychotropic drug prescriptions in an oncology population

Abstract

The present study examined the prescription practices concerning psychotropic drugs in 5 major oncology centers over a 6 month period. During the survey period 1579 patients were admitted to the collaborating institutions, and 51% of them were prescribed at least one psychotropic medication. Hypnotics were the most frequently prescribed drugs, accounting for 48% of total prescriptions, followed by anti-psychotics at 26% and anti-anxiety agents at 25%. Anti-depressant drugs accounted for only 1% of psychotropic prescriptions. Analysis of prescription rationales revealed that 44% of the psychotropic prescriptions were written for sleep, while 25% were given for nausea and vomiting; approximately 17% were attributed to psychological distress, and 12% were associated with diagnostic medical procedures. The overall rate of prescription was approximately 2 psychotropic drugs per patient per admission, with only 2% of prescriptions resulting in chart-documented side effects. At the level of individual compounds, 3 distinct drugs accounted for 72% of total prescriptions--flurazepam (33%), prochlorperazine (21%), and diazepam (17%).

Cancer-Related Fatigue and Sleep Disorders

“…Approximately 25%-50% of all prescriptions written for patients with cancer are for hypnotics [7,8]. Additionally, sleep disruptions can persist in cancer survivors for many years after diagnosis and completion of treatment, making it one of the most pervasive problems faced by patients with cancer [9,10].…”

The Relationship among Chronic Disease, Feeling-for-Their-Age, Sleep Quality, Health-Related Quality of Life and Activities of Daily Living of Community-Dwelling Persons over 55 Years of Age

“…Sleep disturbance is a common symptom among patients with cancer [47] [48], and the pain caused by cancer [49], the use of palliative drugs for the treatment and the fatigue caused by surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and irradiation therapy were related to effects of sleep disturbance. It was reported that the insomnia of patients with cancer occurs in relation to depression and anxiety [50].…”

Psychohematology. Attempt to Summarise

“…A high degree of resilience can help patients to adapt to their situation and to resume their everyday life [109] . The problem of MD in patients undergoing bone marrow t r a n s p l a n t a t i o n , a n d i s c l o s e l y r e l a t e d t o t h e i s s u e o f compliance [63,[110][111][112][113] . Improving the perception of pain and other subjective unbearable sensations that occur when performing such manipulations in patients (and especially in the context of comorbid depression [113] ) may violate compliance, which could result in rejection of invasive but necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.…”