Current Situation of Prescription of Anti-Depression Medications at Hanoi Mental Hospital

Abstract

To analyze antidepressant prescribing patterns and assess potential drug–drug interactions in inpatients with depression at Hanoi Mental Hospital. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 71 inpatient medical records of patients diagnosed with depression (ICD-10 codes F32, F33) from 2024 to 2025. Data on patient characteristics, medication use, treatment regimens, dose appropriateness according to Ministry of Health guidelines, and potential drug–drug interactions were collected. Drug interactions were identified using Drug.com and Medscape databases. Results: Most patients received combination therapy (95.77%), with the most common regimen including antidepressants, antipsychotics, and sedative agents. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were the most frequently prescribed class, with sertraline being the predominant drug. Drug dosages were generally consistent with national guidelines. A total of 11 potential drug–drug interaction pairs were identified, mainly associated with risks of QT interval prolongation and serotonin syndrome. Notably, discrepancies in interaction severity classification were observed between the two databases. Conclusions: Antidepressant use in this setting was generally appropriate in terms of drug selection and dosing. However, the high rate of polypharmacy may increase the risk of potential drug–drug interactions. Careful evaluation of combination therapy and interpretation of interaction data from multiple sources, in conjunction with clinical context, are essential to optimize treatment safety.