A cross-sectional prevalence survey of psychotropic medication prescribing patterns in prisons in England

Hassan L, Frisher M, Senior J, Tully M, Webb R, While D, Shaw J.
Record ID 32014001251
English
Authors' objectives: The study aimed to determine the prevalence, appropriateness and acceptability of psychotropic prescribing in prisons. The objectives were to determine rates of prescribing for psychotropic medications, compared with those in the wider community; the appropriateness of psychotropic prescribing in prisons; and the perceived satisfaction and acceptability of prescribing decisions to patients and general practitioners (GPs).
Authors' recommendations: Psychotropic medicines were prescribed more frequently in prisons than in the community. Without current and robust data on comparative rates of mental illness, it is not possible to fully assess the appropriateness of psychotropic prescribing. Nonetheless, psychotropic medicines were prescribed for a wider range of clinical indications than currently recommended, with discernible differences in drug choice. Complex health and security concerns exist within prisons. Further research is necessary to determine the effect of psychotropic prescribing on physical health, and to determine the optimum balance between medicines and alternative treatments in prisons.
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2014
URL for published report: http://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/hsdr/hsdr02330/#/abstract
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: England, United Kingdom
MeSH Terms
  • Humans
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives
  • Prisons
  • Prescriptions
Contact
Organisation Name: NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research programme
Contact Address: NIHR Journals Library, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Alpha House, University of Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NS, UK
Contact Name: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Contact Email: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Copyright: Queen's Printer and Controller of HMSO
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