Excessive use of anticholinergic drugs in a sub-sample of Italian schizophrenics.

Author(s): Schifano F, di Costanzo E

Affiliation(s): Department of Pharmacology, University of Padova School of Medicine, Italy.

Publication date & source: 1991-05, Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol., 29(5):184-6.

Publication type: Comparative Study

Compliance to the prescription of anticholinergic drugs in 274 consecutive schizophrenic outpatients has been assessed retrospectively from their clinical records. Ten point four percent of the sample (22 patients) took these drugs in amounts greater than those prescribed. Some possible explanations of this excessive use are discussed.