Objectives: (1) to review characteristics of prescription patterns of antipsychotic medication in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, (2) to examine the changes of prescriptions brought about by the introduction of second generation psychotropic drugs (SGA) in East Asia, (3) to analyse factors contributing to the characteristic use of antipsychotics, and (4) to suggest ways and means to improve the prescription practice of antipsychotics in East Asia.
Methods: Authors of this study collaborated with psychiatrists in East Asia to undertake an international survey reviewing prescription patterns of psychotropic medications in East Asia. The REAP (Research on Asian psychotropic prescription patterns) study reviewed the prescription of a large number of schizophrenic inpatients in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan in 2001 and 2004 using a unified research protocol and questionnaire.
Results: Prescription patterns of antipsychotic drugs differ greatly country by country and have recently experienced rapid changes. Our survey shows second generation antipsychotics are frequently used in East Asia. The introduction of SGA resulted in the combined use of first generation psychotropic drugs (FGA) and SGA in East Asia. These changing prescription patterns have created many challenges for psychiatrists in East Asia.