Psychotropic drug prescribing: a self-audit

Abstract

In my 1971 survey of psychotropic drugs I suggested that the variety of psychotropic drugs and the use of barbiturates and minor tranquillizers ought to be reduced. Five years later these objectives had been achieved.A comparison is made with the national prescription rate in the main categories of psychotropic drugs. The prescription rate of antidepressants was appreciably higher but that of hypnotics and tranquillizers was considerably lower. The net ingredient cost of the drugs prescribed was 33 per cent of the rate for England.Hospital referrals, suicides, and overdoses are related to the national figures.