PSYCHOTROPIC-DRUG PRESCRIPTION IN REHABILITATION - A SURVEY IN HONG-KONG

Rational pharmacotherapy helping chronic psychiatric patients in the d ifficult process of reintegration into the community is an important p rerequisite of successful rehabilitation. Results of a survey conducte d at the opening of a rehabilitation facility in Hong Kong revealed a number of illogicalities in prescription patterns. Frequently encounte red faulty treatment decisions incompatible with the recommendations o f modern literature included polypharmacy, higher than necessary doses of anticholinergic antiparkinsonian agents and giving psychotropic dr ugs in inconveniently divided doses. With the newly emerging subspecia lty of rehabilitation-community psychiatry in Hong Kong, it is expecte d that large numbers of chronically hospitalized patients will enter r ehabilitation programmes. The present survey indicated that it is impe rative to pay continued attention to their medication status.