Am J Psychiatry 1984; 141:267-270
Copyright © 1984 by American Psychiatric Association
Clinician-computer interaction: automated review of psychotropic drugs
TJ Craig and RM Mehta
Five years after its introduction at a state mental hospital, an automated
drug exception review system continues to show a long-term impact on the
prescribing practices of hospital physicians. Although the overall rate of
exceptions has remained low, approximately 25% of all new exceptions
pointed out by the computer result in a change in the order by the
physician. The fact that 60% of new exceptions are justified suggests that
some forms of polypharmacy may be appropriate. The integration of the
exception-reporting system into the clinical review process has avoided the
danger of the computer's being seen as an adversary to the clinician or as
exerting undue control over psychopharmacologic prescription practices.
