Abstract
The objective of this study is to understand psychiatrist’s decisions to prescribe psychiatric medications. A survey questionnaire
was prepared consisting of 15 factors. Each factor had a five-point Likert scale, rating the importance of each factor in
making decisions to prescribe medications. Twenty-six psychiatrists at a state psychiatric hospital completed the questionnaire.
The data analysis involved the frequencies of responses for each factor being compared using Chi square goodness-of-fit tests
with null hypothesis that the response distribution will be centered around average score of three on the Likert scale. All
the participants rated patient’s symptom, severity, and diagnosis as the most important. This was followed by the patient’s
past experience with medications, then medication side effects, concurrent physical health problems, and medication interactions.
Psychiatrist’s experience with medications rated as more important than evidence from clinical trials. Finally, psychiatrists
integrate evidence from research findings with personal experience, patient preferences, and clinical context in making decisions
in prescribing medications for psychiatric disorders.
was prepared consisting of 15 factors. Each factor had a five-point Likert scale, rating the importance of each factor in
making decisions to prescribe medications. Twenty-six psychiatrists at a state psychiatric hospital completed the questionnaire.
The data analysis involved the frequencies of responses for each factor being compared using Chi square goodness-of-fit tests
with null hypothesis that the response distribution will be centered around average score of three on the Likert scale. All
the participants rated patient’s symptom, severity, and diagnosis as the most important. This was followed by the patient’s
past experience with medications, then medication side effects, concurrent physical health problems, and medication interactions.
Psychiatrist’s experience with medications rated as more important than evidence from clinical trials. Finally, psychiatrists
integrate evidence from research findings with personal experience, patient preferences, and clinical context in making decisions
in prescribing medications for psychiatric disorders.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s11126-011-9197-8
- Authors
- Somasundaram Rajendran, Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo, 1600 W 24th St., Pueblo, CO 81003, USA
- Terrie A. Sajbel, Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo, 1600 W 24th St., Pueblo, CO 81003, USA
- Timothy J. Hartman, Pfizer, Inc., New York, NY, USA
- Journal Psychiatric Quarterly
- Online ISSN 1573-6709
- Print ISSN 0033-2720