Background:  Prescription pattern analysis forms an important part of drug utilization studies, that are helpful in the rational prescribing of drugs and also to reduce medication errors. In our country, the available data on the prescription pattern of drugs in psychiatric disorders is very limited. Hence in our study, we focus on the prescribing pattern of drugs in anxiety disorders, which is one of the most widespread psychiatric disorders.

Methodology: A prospective observational study was conducted over a period of one year (January 2018 to December 2018) by analyzing the prescription forms of 51 patients who were diagnosed with anxiety disorders in psychiatry outpatient department. This study was initiated after getting approval from institutional human ethics committee.

Results:  Out of 51 prescriptions analyzed, generalized anxiety disorder (33.33%) was the most common anxiety disorder followed by panic anxiety disorder (23.52%). Majority of the patients belong to the age group of 36- 45 years(37.25%). Major proportion of the participants were males (52.94%). By assessing the prescription pattern as per WHO/INRUD drug use indicators, the average number of drugs per prescription was found to be 2.60. Benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were the most common drug groups used to treat anxiety disorders.

Conclusion:  Prescription pattern of drugs for anxiety disorders were rational and according to WHO guidelines. The age and morbidity distribution pattern of the study participants are similar to the outcome of many previous studies.

Keywords:  Anxiety disorder, Generalized anxiety disorder, Prescription pattern, Clonazepam.

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Nirmala P.

Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology, Rajah Muthiah Medical College, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, India