Antipsychotics are increasingly prescribed for personality disorder, against NICE guidelines, researchers find

Antipsychotics have been frequently and increasingly prescribed for extended periods to people with recorded personality disorder but no history of severe mental illness, a study looking at UK general practice data has found.

Researchers from University College London looked at 46 210 people who had had personality disorder recorded in their GP record between January 2000 and 31 December 2016. Of these, 15 562 (34%) had been prescribed antipsychotics.

The study, published in BMJ Open, also found that 36 875 people with a record of personality disorder had no record of severe mental illness.

An urgent review of clinical practice is warranted, including the effectiveness of such prescribing and the need to monitor for adverse effects, including metabolic complications.

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Source: BMJ, 10 March 2022