Compliance with NICE guidance: concurrent use of different antipsychotic drugs

This paper aims to present an audit assessed compliance with NICE guidance on the concurrent use of different antipsychotic drugs.

Two explicit and evidence‐based standards were audited and a full audit cycle was completed.

The paper finds that although the number of people receiving only one regular antipsychotic increased over time, so did the number receiving more than one regular antipsychotic. Fewer people were receiving one regular antipsychotic and a different PRN antipsychotic in the re‐audit.

Clearer guidance about the limits and reviewing of multiple antipsychotics would be welcome.

The paper suggests that dissemination, re‐audit and clear documentation are needed to maintain standards of clinical practice.