Characterization of the Use of Antipsychotics in PTSD During the Past Seven Years

Overview

The primary objective is to examine the percentage of patients with PTSD who were prescribed an antipsychotic over the past seven years in the VA Network 7 (AL, GA, SC) and compare the percentage on an annual basis. We will also determine the type and dose of antipsychotics received. We hypothesize that there has been a significant increase in antipsychotic use, especially atypical antipsychotics, prescribed for patients with PTSD over the last 7 years

This study is a retrospective electronic review of the VISN 7 Data Warehouse to determine what have been the emerging trends in prescriptions of atypical antipsychotic medications over the past seven years for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the VA This study is a retrospective electronic review of patients of the VISN 7 Data Warehouse of patients with a diagnosis of PTSD treated with antipsychotics as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy at a VA Medical Center or VA clinic in VISN 7 (GA, SC, and AL). The data will be retrieved from a computerized list of patients treated in VA VISN 7 for PTSD from 1998-2005 and cross-referenced with the electronic pharmacy file for having received a prescription of an antipsychotic medication. No personal identifiers will be collected. The data will then be examined to determine what type of antipsychotics were prescribed and the dose and duration of the antipsychotics. In addition, demographics and clinical characteristics available through the Data Warehouse will be collected.

Conditions

Eligibility

Locations (1)