Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast Polypharmacy in Psychiatry
Sep 9, 2022
In this discussion, Jacob McBride, a psychiatrist from Pittsburgh, dives into the pressing issue of polypharmacy in mental health care. He highlights the significant risks associated with combining multiple medications and the adverse effects on patients' cognitive functions. McBride advocates for a holistic approach, emphasizing the importance of lifestyle changes alongside medication. He also touches on the ethical dilemmas faced by psychiatrists and the need for strong therapeutic relationships, encouraging a balance between effective treatment and personal connection with patients.
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Polypharmacy Risks and Prevalence
- Polypharmacy is a serious and common issue in psychiatry, affecting roughly a third of outpatients.
- Adding more medications increases risk exponentially due to interactions and compliance challenges.
Polypharmacy's Impact on Life
- Adding more medications worsens functionality and interpersonal relationships due to side effects.
- It’s unclear if symptoms drive medication increases or medications worsen symptoms, complicating causality assessments.
Pharma Influence on Prescribing
- Pharmaceutical companies strategically educate psychiatrists to promote prescriptions, impacting prescribing behaviors.
- Physicians must be vigilant about conflicts of interest to avoid biased medication choices.