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HOME > J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol > Volume 12(2); 2014 > Article
Comparison of Prescription Patterns and Clinical Features according to Clinical Departments in Sedative-hypnotic Intoxication
Do Min Kim, Won Bin Park, Yong Su Lim, Jin Joo Kim, Jae Ho Jang, Jee Yong Jang, Hyuk Jun Yang, Geun Lee
Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology 2014;12(2):54-62
DOI: https://doi.org/
Published online: December 31, 2014
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1Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center
2Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center
3Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center
4Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center
5Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center
6Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center
7Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center
8Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare prescription patterns and clinical features according to clinical departments in sedative-hypnotic intoxication. Methods: This was a retrospective study of histories, substances of poisoning, acquisition routes, clinical courses, and outcomes of patients treated for acute intoxication in a single emergency medical center from January, 2011 to December, 2013. Results: A total of 769 patients were treated for acute intoxication, 281 patients ingested sedative hypnotics during the study period. Among 281 patients, 155 patients were prescribed by psychiatric department and 80 patients were prescribed by non-psychiatric department. Benzodiazepines were more likely to be prescribed by psychiatrists, and zolpidem was preferred by non-psychiatrists (p<0.001). Non-psychiatrists were more likely to prescribe short acting benzodiazepines than psychiatrists (p<0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the clinical outcomes, including prevalence of admission to ICU, ventilator care, and length of stay in ICU. In patients prescribed by non-psychiatrists, there were more patients prescribed without psychiatric diagnosis and diagnosed as major depression disorder after hospitalization. Conclusion: To promote rational prescribing of sedative hypnotics, proper psychiatric evaluation should be performed before prescribing, and educational programs including the contents of interactions and side effects of sedative hypnotics are needed.

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JKSCT : Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology