Polypharmacy among psychiatric patients in Kuwait

Prescriptions for 116 psychiatric inpatients were studied. About a third of the patients had received three psychotropic drugs and more than half had a combination of four or more. Neuroleptic drugs were prescribed for all patients regardless of the diagnoses. Anticholinergic drugs were prescribed in excess, without providing information on side effects or the duration of neuroleptic treatment. Half of the patients treated with antidepressants had diagnoses other than affective disorders. Most of the p.r.n. medications were administered on nurses' requests, without medical indications. Some underlying technical and administrative aspects of polypharmacy are discussed. Ways to improve prescribing habits are suggested.