Magnitude of variation Interpretation In 2013–14, there were 2,582,447 PBS prescriptions Potential reasons for the variation include dispensed for antipsychotic medicines, representing differences in: 17,844 prescriptions per 100,000 people aged 18 to prescription practices, which may vary between 64 years (the Australian rate). states and territories, primary health providers and specialists The number of PBS prescriptions dispensed for the prevalence of mental health conditions such antipsychotic medicines across 325* local areas as schizophrenia, which may be higher in (SA3s) ranged from 2,076 to 39,544 per 100,000 disadvantaged communities2 people aged 18 to 64 years. The number of access to psychiatric and psychological services prescriptions was 19.0 times higher in the area with the highest rate compared to the area with the lowest location of correctional facilities in of rate. The average number of prescriptions dispensed higher dispensing varied across states and territories, from 9,250 per private prescriptions, which are not included 100,000 people aged 18 to 64 years in the Northern in this data. Territory, to 20,863 in South Australia. It is also important to note that the dispensing of After excluding the highest and lowest results, the antipsychotic medicines in remote areas by some antipsychotic medicine prescription rate across the Aboriginal Health Services is not captured in the 302 remaining local areas was 3.2 times higher in PBS database. one local area compared to another. To explore this variation, further analysis could Dispensing rates were similar in major cities and focus on: regional areas and were lowest in the individual- and factors that lead remote communities. to unwarranted variations in the prescribing and dispensing of antipsychotic medicines to those A relationship was noted between dispensing rates aged 18 to 64 and socioeconomic status: rates were highest in areas of low socioeconomic status, and lower in the rate of variation once quetiapine has been areas of high socioeconomic status. removed from the data, as concerns have been raised about its use as a sedative. *There are 333 SA3s. For this item, data were suppressed for 8 SA3s. This is because of confidentiality requirements given the small numbers of prescriptions dispensed in these areas.
Magnitude of variation In 2013–14, there were 2,582,447 PBS prescriptions dispensed for antipsychotic medicines, representing 17,844 prescriptions per 100,000 people aged 18 to 64 years (the Australian rate). The number of PBS prescriptions dispensed for antipsychotic medicines across 325* local areas (SA3s) ranged from 2,076 to 39,544 per 100,000 people aged 18 to 64 years. The number of prescriptions was 19.0 times higher in the area with the highest rate compared to the area with the lowest rate. The average number of prescriptions dispensed varied across states and territories, from 9,250 per 100,000 people aged 18 to 64 years in the Northern Territory, to 20,863 in South Australia. After excluding the highest and lowest results, the antipsychotic medicine prescription rate across the 302 remaining local areas was 3.2 times higher in one local area compared to another. Dispensing rates were similar in major cities and regional areas and were lowest in remote communities. A relationship was noted between dispensing rates and socioeconomic status: rates were highest in areas of low socioeconomic status, and lower in areas of high socioeconomic status. Interpretation Potential reasons for the variation include differences in: prescription practices, which may vary between states and territories, primary health providers and specialists the prevalence of mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, which may be higher in disadvantaged communities2 access to psychiatric and psychological services location of correctional facilities in of higher dispensing private prescriptions, which are not included in this data. It is also important to note that the dispensing of antipsychotic medicines in remote areas by some Aboriginal Health Services is not captured in the PBS database. To explore this variation, further analysis could focus on: the individual- and factors that lead to unwarranted variations in the prescribing and dispensing of antipsychotic medicines to those aged 18 to 64 the rate of variation once quetiapine has been removed from the data, as concerns have been raised about its use as a sedative. *There are 333 SA3s. For this item, data were suppressed for 8 SA3s. This is because of confidentiality requirements given the small numbers of prescriptions dispensed in these areas.