This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Robert S. Beardsley, PhD; Gloria J. Gardocki, PhD; David B. Larson, MD, MSPH; Julia Hidalgo, ScD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1988;45(12):1117-1119.

Abstract
• This study investigates the prescribing of psychotropic medications by primary care physicians and psychiatrists using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey database. Results indicate that primary care practitioners provide a larger percentage of psychotropic drug visits than psychiatrists in every psychotropic class except for those patients prescribed lithium. In addition, the two provider groups differed in the relative proportions of the classes of psychotropic drugs prescribed. Primary care physicians prescribed anxiolytics most frequently, while psychiatrists prescribed antidepressants most often. Finally, in all therapeutic classes, when a psychotropic medication was prescribed, psychiatrists typically provided a mental health diagnosis, while primary care physicians did not.

Author Affiliations
From the School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore (Dr Beardsley); the National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, Md (Dr Gardocki); the Biometry and Clinical Applications Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Rockville, Md (Dr Larson); and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Baltimore (Dr Hidalgo).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Feb 25, 1988.

Reprint requests to University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy, 20 N Pine St, Baltimore, MD 21201 (Dr Beardsley).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

A Rose by Any Other Name? The Influence of Brand Name versus Chemical Differences in the Prescription of Antidepressants: The Role of Expertise
Ward et al.
Journal of Macromarketing 2008;28:258-274.
ABSTRACT  

Psychiatric Treatment in Primary Care Patients With Anxiety Disorders: A Comparison of Care Received From Primary Care Providers and Psychiatrists
Weisberg et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2007;164:276-282.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Psychiatric Patients and Treatments in 1997: Findings From the American Psychiatric Practice Research Network
Pincus et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999;56:441-449.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prescribing Trends in Psychotropic Medications: Primary Care, Psychiatry, and Other Medical Specialties
Pincus et al.
JAMA 1998;279:526-531.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Developing a Strategy for Managing Behavioral Health Care Within the Context of Primary Care
Fisher and Ransom
Arch Fam Med 1997;6:324-333.
ABSTRACT  

The 'Usual Care' of Major Depression in Primary Care Practice
Schulberg et al.
Arch Fam Med 1997;6:334-339.
ABSTRACT  

Managed Care and the Future of Psychiatry
Detre and McDonald
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1997;54:201-204.
ABSTRACT  

Development and Validation of the SDDS-PC Screen for Multiple Mental Disorders in Primary Care
Broadhead et al.
Arch Fam Med 1995;4:211-219.
ABSTRACT  

Applicability of Clinical Pharmacotherapy Guidelines for Major Depression in Primary Care Settings
Schulberg et al.
Arch Fam Med 1995;4:106-112.
ABSTRACT  

Clinician Specialty and Treatment Style for Depressed Outpatients With and Without Medical Comorbidities
Meredith et al.
Arch Fam Med 1994;3:1065-1072.
ABSTRACT  

Recognition, Management, and Course of Anxiety and Depression in General Practice
Ormel et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1991;48:700-706.
ABSTRACT  

The Future of Psychiatry
Council on Long Range Planning and Development
JAMA 1990;264:2542-2548.
ABSTRACT  

Psychiatry
Glass and Freedman
JAMA 1989;261:2883-2885.
ABSTRACT