Pharmaceutical policy issues for medical schools.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Arthur Lazarus.
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OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether the practices of switching between classes of medications and prescription of concomitant medications differed between black and non-black patients with bipolar disorders. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort design, data from 1998 to 2004 for patients with diagnoses of bipolar disorders were obtained from a large claims database. Information was obtained on the number of prescriptions for four classes of medications (anticonvulsants, mood stabilizers, and first- and second-generation antipsychotics) as well as on medication switching (between drug classes), concomitant prescriptions, resource use, and outcomes (an emergency department visit or a hospitalization). Logistic models assessed the relationship between outcomes and switching or concomitant prescriptions. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 1,113 adults who received at least one prescription from the four drug classes. Medication switching or concomitant prescriptions were documented for more than one-third of patients (36.6 percent). A significantly greater proportion of black patients received two or more medications from different drug classes (41.1 compared with 34.7 percent). The number of prescriptions was lower for black patients than for non-black patients. Patients for whom switching or concomitant prescriptions were documented were significantly more likely to have an emergency department visit or a hospitalization, and race was a significant predictor of these outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of polypharmacy-medication switching and concomitant prescriptions-was high among patients with bipolar disorder, with a higher prevalence among black patients. Patients who experienced switching or concomitant prescriptions were more likely to visit the emergency department or to be hospitalized.
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Depression is often perceived as an isolated disease, and attempts to treat patients with depression from the managed care standpoint frequently reflect this silo mentality. Disease management programs for depression cannot succeed unless these initiatives are integrated through the primary care point-of-service and the PCPs treating the patient with depression understand this broader point of view.
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Your core competencies make you much more valuable to your organization. Find out ways to nurture and promote those competencies.
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Strong, well thought out organizational behaviors help instill confidence in patients and allow physicians to take a leadership role in health care.
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