A Cross-Sectional Observational Study on the Patterns of Adverse Drug Reactions Associated with Antipsychotic Medication Use (Code-T0223)

Introduction: Antipsychotic medications are commonly prescribed for the management of various psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression. Despite their therapeutic benefits, these medications are often linked to a range of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), which can significantly affect patient health and treatment compliance. Understanding the patterns and risk factors of these ADRs is essential for optimizing patient care.

Aim and Objective:

Aim - to determine the severity of ADRs associated with antipsychotic medication(s).

Primary objective – to assess ADRs associated with antipsychotic medications using Hartwig scale.

Secondary objective –

• To identify the drug with the most severe ADRs.
• To identify the drug with maximum number of ADRs.
• To identify the most common ADR observed with each drug.
• To assess the preventability of the ADRs using Schumock Thornton scale..

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 150 patients currently using antipsychotic drugs for various psychiatric conditions. Data was collected through patient interviews, clinical assessments, and review of medical records. Adverse reactions were categorized based on type, frequency, and severity. Statistical analysis was used to identify correlations between ADRs and patient characteristics, as well as medication types.

Results: The study found that the most frequent ADRs included weight gain, sedation, extrapyramidal symptoms, and metabolic disturbances. The use of atypical antipsychotics, such as clozapine and olanzapine, was associated with higher incidences of metabolic side effects, while typical antipsychotics like haloperidol were more often linked to motor-related symptoms. Factors such as age, dosage, and duration of treatment were found to influence the likelihood and severity of ADRs.

Conclusion: Antipsychotic medications are frequently associated with a variety of adverse drug reactions. Identifying these patterns is critical for clinicians to make informed decisions about medication choice, dosage, and monitoring strategies to enhance treatment safety and patient well-being.

Keywords: Antipsychotic medications, Adverse drug reactions, Cross-sectional study, Metabolic side effects, Extrapyramidal symptoms, Psychiatric treatment.