OBJECTIVES: Despite increasing use of antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP), few studies have investigated APP for Korean patients with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to identify the sociodemographic and clinical correlates and recent prescription profiles of APP in schizophrenia patients. METHODS: A total of 297 schizophrenia patients were recruited and interviewed using standardized assessment instruments in Seoul National Hospital. Differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between APP and antipsychotic monopharmacy (APM) groups were analyzed. The prescriptions of psychotropic drugs were collected by a review of medical records. RESULTS: In comparison with the APM group, the APP group showed association with earlier onset, lower employment rate, and higher scores for Clinical Global Impression-Severity and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) (p<0.001). In particular, the BPRS positive (p<0.001) and affective symptom scores (p<0.001) of the APP group were higher those of the APM group. The most frequent combination pattern of APP was second generation antipsychotics (SGA)+SGA, followed by SGA+first generation antipsychotics (FGA), and SGA+SGA+FGA. For antipsychotics, it was risperidone+quetiapine, followed by clozapine+risperidone, risperidone+sulpiride, and risperidone+haloperidol. CONCLUSION: The current study suggests that the usage of APP for schizophrenia could be related to symptom severity affected by positive and affective symptoms. The prescription profile reflects that the proportion of atypical antipsychotics on APP has increased.
Affective Symptoms ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ; Employment ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Polypharmacy* ; Prescriptions ; Psychotropic Drugs ; Schizophrenia* ; Seoul

Objective: The treatment rate for alcohol use disorder (AUD) in Korea is significantly lower than its prevalence rate. Because untreated AUD can have harmful consequences, it is important to identify the factors that contribute to individuals with AUD seeking mental health services. Methods: We collected nationally representative data from the National Mental Health Survey of Korea 2021 and analyzed responses from 643 individuals with AUD, of which 76.8% were male. Factors related to mental health service utilization among individuals with AUD were classified into three categories: sociodemographic (such as sex, age, marital status, education, and monthly household income), clinical (including symptom severity, psychiatric comorbidity, suicidality, and physical illness), and psychological characteristics (like perceived stigma, loneliness and social isolation, and resilience). We used multiple logistic regression analyses to examine each characteristic separately and combined in a single model to determine the most significant factors. Results: The three logistic regression models revealed that sex, psychiatric comorbidity, physical illness, and perceived stigma are significantly linked to the utilization of mental health services among individuals with AUD. Results from the comprehensive model indicated that only physical illness and perceived stigma have significant associations with mental health service utilization. Conclusion These findings can assist in developing targeted interventions for individuals with AUD.

Objective: The treatment rate for alcohol use disorder (AUD) in Korea is significantly lower than its prevalence rate. Because untreated AUD can have harmful consequences, it is important to identify the factors that contribute to individuals with AUD seeking mental health services. Methods: We collected nationally representative data from the National Mental Health Survey of Korea 2021 and analyzed responses from 643 individuals with AUD, of which 76.8% were male. Factors related to mental health service utilization among individuals with AUD were classified into three categories: sociodemographic (such as sex, age, marital status, education, and monthly household income), clinical (including symptom severity, psychiatric comorbidity, suicidality, and physical illness), and psychological characteristics (like perceived stigma, loneliness and social isolation, and resilience). We used multiple logistic regression analyses to examine each characteristic separately and combined in a single model to determine the most significant factors. Results: The three logistic regression models revealed that sex, psychiatric comorbidity, physical illness, and perceived stigma are significantly linked to the utilization of mental health services among individuals with AUD. Results from the comprehensive model indicated that only physical illness and perceived stigma have significant associations with mental health service utilization. Conclusion These findings can assist in developing targeted interventions for individuals with AUD.

Objective: The treatment rate for alcohol use disorder (AUD) in Korea is significantly lower than its prevalence rate. Because untreated AUD can have harmful consequences, it is important to identify the factors that contribute to individuals with AUD seeking mental health services. Methods: We collected nationally representative data from the National Mental Health Survey of Korea 2021 and analyzed responses from 643 individuals with AUD, of which 76.8% were male. Factors related to mental health service utilization among individuals with AUD were classified into three categories: sociodemographic (such as sex, age, marital status, education, and monthly household income), clinical (including symptom severity, psychiatric comorbidity, suicidality, and physical illness), and psychological characteristics (like perceived stigma, loneliness and social isolation, and resilience). We used multiple logistic regression analyses to examine each characteristic separately and combined in a single model to determine the most significant factors. Results: The three logistic regression models revealed that sex, psychiatric comorbidity, physical illness, and perceived stigma are significantly linked to the utilization of mental health services among individuals with AUD. Results from the comprehensive model indicated that only physical illness and perceived stigma have significant associations with mental health service utilization. Conclusion These findings can assist in developing targeted interventions for individuals with AUD.

Objective: The treatment rate for alcohol use disorder (AUD) in Korea is significantly lower than its prevalence rate. Because untreated AUD can have harmful consequences, it is important to identify the factors that contribute to individuals with AUD seeking mental health services. Methods: We collected nationally representative data from the National Mental Health Survey of Korea 2021 and analyzed responses from 643 individuals with AUD, of which 76.8% were male. Factors related to mental health service utilization among individuals with AUD were classified into three categories: sociodemographic (such as sex, age, marital status, education, and monthly household income), clinical (including symptom severity, psychiatric comorbidity, suicidality, and physical illness), and psychological characteristics (like perceived stigma, loneliness and social isolation, and resilience). We used multiple logistic regression analyses to examine each characteristic separately and combined in a single model to determine the most significant factors. Results: The three logistic regression models revealed that sex, psychiatric comorbidity, physical illness, and perceived stigma are significantly linked to the utilization of mental health services among individuals with AUD. Results from the comprehensive model indicated that only physical illness and perceived stigma have significant associations with mental health service utilization. Conclusion These findings can assist in developing targeted interventions for individuals with AUD.

Objective: The treatment rate for alcohol use disorder (AUD) in Korea is significantly lower than its prevalence rate. Because untreated AUD can have harmful consequences, it is important to identify the factors that contribute to individuals with AUD seeking mental health services. Methods: We collected nationally representative data from the National Mental Health Survey of Korea 2021 and analyzed responses from 643 individuals with AUD, of which 76.8% were male. Factors related to mental health service utilization among individuals with AUD were classified into three categories: sociodemographic (such as sex, age, marital status, education, and monthly household income), clinical (including symptom severity, psychiatric comorbidity, suicidality, and physical illness), and psychological characteristics (like perceived stigma, loneliness and social isolation, and resilience). We used multiple logistic regression analyses to examine each characteristic separately and combined in a single model to determine the most significant factors. Results: The three logistic regression models revealed that sex, psychiatric comorbidity, physical illness, and perceived stigma are significantly linked to the utilization of mental health services among individuals with AUD. Results from the comprehensive model indicated that only physical illness and perceived stigma have significant associations with mental health service utilization. Conclusion These findings can assist in developing targeted interventions for individuals with AUD.