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Use of licensed medicines for unlicensed applications in Psychiatric practice: Psychopharmacology Committee

Use of licensed medicines for unlicensed applications in Psychiatric practice: Psychopharmacology Committee
Use of licensed medicines for unlicensed applications in Psychiatric practice: Psychopharmacology Committee
Pharmacological treatment is an important component of much of psychiatric practice. Many psychotropic medications and psychological interventions are available for patients with mental health problems, but patients often remain troubled by distressing symptoms despite undergoing a series of pharmacological and
psychological treatments. In this situation, doctors may wonder whether they might prescribe a medication outside the narrow terms of its market authorisation (‘product licence’) in an attempt to improve clinical outcomes. Many authorities agree that use of a drug outside the terms of its licence can be a necessary and
beneficial part of clinical practice, whereas others have raised concerns about patient safety and medical liability.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists first issued guidance on recommended procedures for the use of licensed medicines for unlicensed applications in psychiatric practice in 2007. In the subsequent decade, evidence on this aspect of practice has increased and other bodies have also provided guidance (e.g. General Medical Council, 2013).

The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Psychopharmacology Committee was therefore asked to consider and, if necessary, revise current College guidance and did so in consultation with representatives from the British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP). We considered the potential benefits and risks of this aspect of
clinical practice and believe that prescription of a drug outside the narrow terms of its market authorisation can be an appropriate part of overall management and in the best interests of a patient. The Committee strived to make ten balanced recommendations that it judged would be feasible to implement within current
psychiatric practice.
CR210
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Aitchison, Katherine J.
01d5e508-5d53-46eb-8b14-db223646fdb3
Baldwin, David S.
1beaa192-0ef1-4914-897a-3a49fc2ed15e
Barnes, Thomas
aa48f854-bb94-40ae-8815-54bfac0cff2a
Hall, Jeremy
a658c523-c662-4090-beb1-4c29b0ec89df
Howes, Oliver
de8dd9a6-d51c-488a-ad93-fcd971d145b1
McAllister-Williams, R. Hamish
6fc391dd-ff07-489e-bd45-73c47ab7412b
Shoka, Ahmed
d50361ae-73e0-4f46-a199-ffe2e393f36f
Stokes, Paul
10b6f80f-772d-49cf-9067-80752f1cae5e
Young, Allan
5118486c-bf97-40d7-a043-2526996244e4
Aitchison, Katherine J.
01d5e508-5d53-46eb-8b14-db223646fdb3
Baldwin, David S.
1beaa192-0ef1-4914-897a-3a49fc2ed15e
Barnes, Thomas
aa48f854-bb94-40ae-8815-54bfac0cff2a
Hall, Jeremy
a658c523-c662-4090-beb1-4c29b0ec89df
Howes, Oliver
de8dd9a6-d51c-488a-ad93-fcd971d145b1
McAllister-Williams, R. Hamish
6fc391dd-ff07-489e-bd45-73c47ab7412b
Shoka, Ahmed
d50361ae-73e0-4f46-a199-ffe2e393f36f
Stokes, Paul
10b6f80f-772d-49cf-9067-80752f1cae5e
Young, Allan
5118486c-bf97-40d7-a043-2526996244e4

Aitchison, Katherine J., Baldwin, David S., Barnes, Thomas, Hall, Jeremy, Howes, Oliver, McAllister-Williams, R. Hamish, Shoka, Ahmed, Stokes, Paul and Young, Allan (2017) Use of licensed medicines for unlicensed applications in Psychiatric practice: Psychopharmacology Committee (College Reports, CR210, CR210) London. Royal College of Psychiatrists 17pp.

Record type: Monograph (Project Report)

Abstract

Pharmacological treatment is an important component of much of psychiatric practice. Many psychotropic medications and psychological interventions are available for patients with mental health problems, but patients often remain troubled by distressing symptoms despite undergoing a series of pharmacological and
psychological treatments. In this situation, doctors may wonder whether they might prescribe a medication outside the narrow terms of its market authorisation (‘product licence’) in an attempt to improve clinical outcomes. Many authorities agree that use of a drug outside the terms of its licence can be a necessary and
beneficial part of clinical practice, whereas others have raised concerns about patient safety and medical liability.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists first issued guidance on recommended procedures for the use of licensed medicines for unlicensed applications in psychiatric practice in 2007. In the subsequent decade, evidence on this aspect of practice has increased and other bodies have also provided guidance (e.g. General Medical Council, 2013).

The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Psychopharmacology Committee was therefore asked to consider and, if necessary, revise current College guidance and did so in consultation with representatives from the British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP). We considered the potential benefits and risks of this aspect of
clinical practice and believe that prescription of a drug outside the narrow terms of its market authorisation can be an appropriate part of overall management and in the best interests of a patient. The Committee strived to make ten balanced recommendations that it judged would be feasible to implement within current
psychiatric practice.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: October 2017
Published date: December 2017

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 416522
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/416522
PURE UUID: e961e6a2-ebc2-4105-87d4-e92a476854b8
ORCID for David S. Baldwin: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3343-0907

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 21 Dec 2017 17:30
Last modified: 11 May 2024 01:34

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Contributors

Author: Katherine J. Aitchison
Author: Thomas Barnes
Author: Jeremy Hall
Author: Oliver Howes
Author: R. Hamish McAllister-Williams
Author: Ahmed Shoka
Author: Paul Stokes
Author: Allan Young

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