Inpatient PRN Overuse

Primer

PRNs (from the Latin pro re nata: for an occasion that has arisen) are a typical prescribing practice in most in-patient psychiatric units. There is limited evidence for the clinical effectiveness of as needed medications.[1][2][3] The overuse of psychotropic PRNs could potentially expose patients to unnecessary psychotropic medications and or confound the response to treatment with other psychotropics.[4]

Resources

References

1) Srivastava, A. (2009). Limited evidence for the effectiveness of PRN medications among psychiatric inpatients. Journal of Psychiatric Practice®, 15(3), 193-201.
2) Baker, J. A., Lovell, K., & Harris, N. (2008). A best‐evidence synthesis review of the administration of psychotropic pro re nata (PRN) medication in in‐patient mental health settings. Journal of clinical nursing, 17(9), 1122-1131.
3) Chakrabarti, A., Whicher, E. V., Morrison, M., & Douglas‐Hall, P. (2007). 'As required'medication regimens for seriously mentally ill people in hospital. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (3).
4) Thapa, P. B., Palmer, S. L., Owen, R. R., Huntley, A. L., Clardy, J. A., & Miller, L. H. (2003). PRN (as-needed) orders and exposure of psychiatric inpatients to unnecessary psychotropic medications. Psychiatric Services, 54(9), 1282-1286.