Psychiatr. praxi 2019; 20(1): 7-10 | DOI: 10.36290/psy.2019.002

Off‑label treatment with antidepressants and antipsychotics

prof. MUDr. Eva Češková, CSc.

CEITEC‑MU, Brno

Psychiatrická klinika FN Brno

KNP LF Univerzity Ostrava

Oddělení psychiatrie, FN Ostrava

The use of antidepressants and antipsychotics including their off‑label indications is increasing. The data concerning the situation in the Czech Republic are not well known. According the available literature circa1/3 of antidepressants is given off‑label; the percentage could be even higher with antipsychotics. There are many reasons, including larger indications and prescribing by primary care physicians. The most frequent off‑label indications of antidepressants are insomnia, as for antipsychotics dementia. Evidence for their efficacy in off label indications is generally low. The child psychiatry is undoubtedly the speciality with a very frequent off label use of psychopharmacs. With introduction of electronic prescribing system, the possibility to get relevant data could be easier.

Keywords: off-label prescribing, antidepressants antipsychotics, child psychiatry, gerontopsychiatry

Published: April 5, 2019  Show citation