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Objective Little is known about the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in older Chinese psychiatric patients. This study examined the frequency of ECT and the demographic and clinical correlates in older psychiatric patients hospitalized in a large psychiatric institution in Beijing, China. Methods This was a retrospective chart review of 2339 inpatients aged 60 years and older treated over a period of 8 years (2007-2013) in a university-affiliated psychiatric institution in Beijing. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from the electronic chart management system for discharged patients. Results The rate of ECT use was 28.1% in the whole sample; 37.9% in those with bipolar disorders, 43.6% in major depression, 21.2% in schizophrenia, and 10.7% in other diagnoses. ECT ('ECT group') was associated with 60-65-year age group, high risk for suicide and low risk for falls at the time of admission, use of mood stabilizers and antidepressants, lack of health insurance, and having major medical conditions and diagnosis of major depression. The above significant correlates explained 24.9% of the variance of ECT use ( p < 0.001). Conclusions In a major psychiatric hospital in China, the use of ECT was common among older patients. ECT use in older patients treated in other clinical settings warrants further investigations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the use of high doses of antipsychotic medications (>=600 mg/day chlorpromazine equivalent) in older Asian patients with schizophrenia and its demographic and clinical correlates. METHOD: Information on hospitalized patients with schizophrenia aged >=50 years was extracted from the database of the Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Patterns study (2001-2009). Data on 2203 patients in six Asian countries and territories, including China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, were analyzed. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and antipsychotic prescriptions were recorded. RESULTS: The frequency for high-dose antipsychotic medications was 36.0% overall, with 38.4% in 2001, 33.3% in 2004 and 36.0% in 2009. Multiple logistic regression analysis of the whole sample showed that compared to patients receiving low-medium antipsychotic doses, those on high doses had a longer illness duration (odds ratio (OR): 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.2-3.3, p = 0.008), were more likely in the 50-59-year group (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.94-0.97, p < 0.001), more often had current positive (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2-1.8, p < 0.001) or negative symptoms (OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.03-1.6, p = 0.03), and more commonly received antipsychotic polypharmacy (OR: 5.3, 95% CI: 4.1-6.7, p < 0.001). Extrapyramidal symptoms (p = 0.25) and tardive dyskinesia (p = 0.92) were not more frequent in the high-dose group. CONCLUSIONS: High doses of antipsychotic medications were used in more than one third of older Asian patients with schizophrenia. The reasons for the frequent use of high antipsychotic doses in older Asian patients warrant further investigation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to examine the use of high doses of antipsychotic medications (≥ 600 mg/day chlorpromazine equivalent) in older Asian patients with schizophrenia and its demographic and clinical correlates. Method: Information on hospitalized patients with schizophrenia aged ≥ 50 years was extracted from the database of the Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Patterns study (2001-2009).Data on 2203 patients in six Asian countries and territories, including China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, were analyzed. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and antipsychotic prescriptions were recorded. Results: The frequency for high-dose antipsychotic medications was 36.0% overall, with 38.4% in 2001, 33.3% in 2004 and 36.0% in 2009. Multiple logistic regression analysis of the whole sample showed that compared to patients receiving low-medium antipsychotic doses, those on high doses had a longer illness duration (odds ratio (OR): 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.2-3.3, p = 0.008), were more likely in the 50-59-year group (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.94-0.97, p<0.001), more often had current positive (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2-1.8, p<0.001) or negative symptoms (OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.03-1.6, p = 0.03), and more commonly received antipsychotic polypharmacy (OR: 5.3, 95% CI: 4.1-6.7, p<0.001). Extrapyramidal symptoms (p = 0.25) and tardive dyskinesia (p = 0.92) were not more frequent in the high-dose group. Conclusions: High doses of antipsychotic medications were used in more than one third of older Asian patients with schizophrenia. The reasons for the frequent use of high antipsychotic doses in older Asian patients warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study surveyed the use of anticholinergic medications (ACMs) in older Asian patients with schizophrenia and examined its demographic and clinical correlates. Method A total of 1452 hospitalized patients with schizophrenia aged 55 years or older in nine Asian countries and territories were surveyed between 2001 and 2009. The cross-sectional data of patients' socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and the prescriptions of antipsychotic drugs and ACM were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. Results The frequency of ACM prescription was 64.6% in the pooled sample, with 72.4%, 61.9%, and 59.5% in 2001, 2004, and 2009, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis of the whole sample revealed that patients on ACM had a higher dose of antipsychotic medications, and were more likely to have extrapyramidal side effects and receive first-generation antipsychotic medications. Conclusions Anticholinergic medications were frequently used in older Asian patients with schizophrenia. Considering the potential side effects of ACM, the rationale for their widespread use in this patient population should be revisited. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]