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Brief Reports
Published Online: 29 November 2023

Psychotropic Medication Prescribing Across Medical Providers, 2016–2019

Phillip M. Hughes, M.S. [email protected], Izabella E. Annis, M.S., Robert E. McGrath, Ph.D., and Kathleen C. Thomas, Ph.D., M.P.H.Authors Info & Affiliations
Publication: Psychiatric Services
Volume 75, Number 5
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.20230156
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Abstract

Objective:

The authors sought to provide updated estimates of the proportion of psychotropic medications prescribed by different medical providers.

Methods:

This pooled cross-sectional study used data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2016–2019). Nationally representative estimates of the percentages of all psychotropic medications prescribed by each provider type were calculated, and analyses stratified by medication type, insurance type, and age were conducted.

Results:

Data from 58,547 psychotropic prescriptions reported by 7,693 unique individuals were analyzed. More than 60% of psychotropic medications were prescribed by providers other than psychiatrists (33.5%) or psychologists (2.2%), such as general practitioners, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. This distribution varied significantly by medication, insurance, and patient age.

Conclusions:

Most psychotropic medication prescribing occurs in primary care; however, notable differences by medication, insurance, and age were observed, suggesting areas for future research.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric Services
Go to Psychiatric Services
Psychiatric Services
Volume 75 • Number 5 • May 01, 2024
Pages: 477 - 480
PubMed: 38018151

History

Received: 29 March 2023
Revision received: 14 August 2023
Revision received: 9 October 2023
Accepted: 16 October 2023
Published online: 29 November 2023
Published in print: May 01, 2024

Keywords

  1. Public health
  2. Antipsychotic
  3. Prescription patterns
  4. Epidemiology
  5. Psychotropic drugs
  6. Health workforce

Authors

Details

Phillip M. Hughes, M.S. [email protected]
Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill (Hughes, Annis, Thomas); Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (Hughes); School of Psychology and Counseling, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey (McGrath).
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Izabella E. Annis, M.S.
Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill (Hughes, Annis, Thomas); Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (Hughes); School of Psychology and Counseling, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey (McGrath).
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Robert E. McGrath, Ph.D.
Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill (Hughes, Annis, Thomas); Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (Hughes); School of Psychology and Counseling, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey (McGrath).
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Kathleen C. Thomas, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill (Hughes, Annis, Thomas); Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (Hughes); School of Psychology and Counseling, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey (McGrath).
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Notes

Send correspondence to Mr. Hughes ([email protected]).

Competing Interests

The authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

Funding Information

Mr. Hughes was partially supported by a National Research Service Award predoctoral/postdoctoral traineeship from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality sponsored by the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (grant T32 HS000032).

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