Monday, February 02, 2015

Choosing Wisely: Five Things Physicians, Psychiatrists, and Patients Should Question

As seen on the Choosing Wisely website

Available also as a PDF

1 Don’t prescribe antipsychotic medications to patients for any indication without appropriate initial evaluation and appropriate ongoing monitoring.


Metabolic, neuromuscular and cardiovascular side effects are common in patients receiving antipsychotic medications for any indication, so thorough initial evaluation to ensure that their use is clinically warranted, and ongoing monitoring to ensure that side effects are identified, are essential. “Appropriate initial evaluation” includes the following: (a) thorough assessment of possible underlying causes of target symptoms including general medical, psychiatric, environmental or psychosocial problems; (b) consideration of general medical conditions; and (c) assessment of family history of general medical conditions, especially of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. “Appropriate ongoing monitoring” includes re-evaluation and documentation of dose, efficacy and adverse effects; and targeted assessment, including assessment of movement disorder or neurological symptoms; weight, waist circumference and/or BMI; blood pressure; heart rate; blood glucose level; and lipid profile at periodic intervals.

2 Don’t routinely prescribe two or more antipsychotic medications concurrently.


Research shows that use of two or more antipsychotic medications occurs in 4 to 35% of outpatients and 30 to 50% of inpatients. However, evidence for the efficacy and safety of using multiple antipsychotic medications is limited, and risk for drug interactions, noncompliance and medication errors is increased. Generally, the use of two or more antipsychotic medications concurrently should be avoided except in cases of three failed trials of monotherapy, which included one failed trial of Clozapine where possible, or where a second antipsychotic medication is added with a plan to cross-taper to monotherapy.

3 Don’t use antipsychotics as first choice to treat behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.


Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia are defined as the non-cognitive symptoms and behaviors, including agitation or aggression, anxiety, irritability, depression, apathy and psychosis. Evidence shows that risks (e.g., cerebrovascular effects, mortality, parkinsonism or extrapyramidal signs, sedation, confusion and other cognitive disturbances, and increased body weight) tend to outweigh the potential benefits of antipsychotic medications in this population. Clinicians should limit the use of antipsychotic medications to cases where non-pharmacologic measures have failed and the patients’ symptoms may create a threat to themselves or others. This item is also included in the American Geriatric Society’s list of recommendations for “Choosing Wisely.”

4 Don’t routinely prescribe antipsychotic medications as a first-line intervention for insomnia in adults.


There is inadequate evidence for the efficacy of antipsychotic medications to treat insomnia (primary or due to another psychiatric or medical condition), with the few studies that do exist showing mixed results.

5 Don’t routinely prescribe an antipsychotic medication to treat behavioral and emotional symptoms of childhood mental disorders in the absence of approved or evidence supported indications.


There are both on and off label clinical indications for antipsychotic use in children and adolescents. FDA approved and/or evidence supported indications for antipsychotic medications in children and adolescents include psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, tic disorders, and severe irritability in children with autism spectrum disorders; there is increasing evidence that antipsychotic medication may be useful for some disruptive behavior disorders. Children and adolescents should be prescribed antipsychotic medications only after having had a careful diagnostic assessment with attention to comorbid medical conditions and a review of the patient’s prior treatments. Efforts should be made to combine both evidence-based pharmacological and psychosocial interventions and support. Limited availability of evidence based psychosocial interventions may make it difficult for every child to receive this ideal combination. Discussion of potential risks and benefits of medication treatment with the child and their guardian is critical. A short and long term treatment and monitoring plan to assess outcome, side effects, metabolic status and discontinuation, if appropriate, is also critical. The evidence base for use of atypical antipsychotics in preschool and younger children is limited and therefore further caution is warranted in prescribing in this population.

These items are provided solely for informational purposes and are not intended as a substitute for consultation with a medical professional. Patients with any specific questions about the items on this list or their individual situation should consult their physician.
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