Prescribing attitudes of antidepressants among psychiatrists in Riyadh city

Abstract EN

Objective: to identify factors that affect psychiatrist’s choice of antidepressant drugs in Riyadh City.

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Method: questionnaire survey of 87 psychiatrists in Riyadh city.

The survey included questions about the preferred antidepressants, and the factors which affect the choice or avoidance of these drugs.

Results: the return rate was 66.7 percent.

Amitriptyline and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the commonest prescribed drugs.

Personal professional experience and good side effect profile were the commonest reasons for selecting the preferred drug.

Toxic effects and primary drug failure were the commonest reason for changing to an alternative drug.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and their combinations with other antidepressant drugs were the most avoided drugs, and the reported causes were drug interactions and dietary restrictions.

The newer drugs are still not popular among psychiatrists.

Conclusion: some old TCAs are still the commonest prescribed drugs because of availability and familiarity to all psychiatrists.

MAOIs, although effective drugs, are the least prescribed drugs because of the availability of better choices.

Lack of experience and availability are still the limiting factors in using the newer agents.

The role of such surveys in ongoing evaluation of clinical practice is emphasized.