Prescription of potentially inappropriate psychotropic drugs in homeless people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Results from the French Housing First (FHF) program.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines have been edited for the treatment of schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorders (BD). Background regimen is currently recommended for both illnesses (antipsychotic drug for SZ and mood stabilizer for BD). The recommendations are less clear for major depression in these disorders. Long-term anxiolytic and hypnotic prescriptions may have potential side effects and should be withdrawn as soon as possible.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of Potentially Inappropriate Psychotropic drugs (PIP) in a large multicenter sample of Homeless Schizophrenia (SZ) and Bipolar Disorder (BD) (HSB) patients.

METHODS: This multicenter study was conducted in 4 French cities: Lille, Marseille, Paris and Toulouse. PIP was defined by at least one item among: (i) absence of background regimen (antipsychotic for SZ or mood stabilizer for BD), (ii) absence of antidepressant for major depressive disorder and (iii) daily long-term anxiolytic or (iv) hypnotic prescription.

RESULTS: Overall, 703 HSB patients, mean aged 38 years and 82.9% men were included, 487 SZ (69.3%) and 216 BD (30.7%). 619 (88.4%) of the patients reported at least one PIP. 386 (54.9%) patients had an inappropriate background regimen prescription (209(43.4%) of SZ had no antipsychotic prescription and 177(81.9%) of BD no mood stabilizer), 336 (48%) had an inappropriate antidepressant prescription (with no significant difference between SZ and BD), 326 (46.4%) had an inappropriate prescription of anxiolytics and 107 (15.2%) had an inappropriate prescription of hypnotics. 388(55%) of the subjects were diagnosed with major depression but only 52(13%) of them were administered antidepressants. In multivariate analysis, PIP was associated with bipolar disorder diagnosis (aOR = 4.67 [1.84-11.89], p = 0.001), current major depressive disorder (aOR = 27.72 [9.53-80.69], p < 0.0001), lower rate of willingness to ask for help (aOR = 0.98[0.96-0.99], p = 0.001). Potentially inappropriate background regimen prescription was associated with bipolar disorder diagnosis (aOR = 6.35 [3.89-10.36], p < 0.0001), lower willingness to ask for help (aOR = 0.99[0.98-0.99], p = 0.01) and lack of lifetime history of psychiatric care (aOR = 0.30[0.12-0.78], p = 0.01). Inappropriate antidepressant prescription was associated with antisocial personality disorder (aOR = 1.58 [1.01-2.48], p = 0.04) and current substance use disorder (aOR = 2.18[1.48-3.20], p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that almost 9 on 10 HSB subjects may receive a PIP including inappropriate prescriptions or absence of appropriate prescription. Bipolar disorder and/or major depression should be targeted in priority and treated with mood stabilizers and/or antidepressants in this population, while anxiolytics and hypnotics should be withdrawn as much as possible. Major depression should be particularly explored in subjects with comorbid antisocial personality disorder and substance use disorder. The psychiatric care has been associated with better appropriate psychotropic prescriptions and should be reinforced in this population.