Background Polypsychopharmacy has been associated with increased risks of adverse drug reactions, metabolic syndrome, and higher healthcare utilization. Although its prevalence is well-documented in secondary and tertiary care, data from primary care settings remain scarce. Aim This study investigated trends in polypsychopharmacy, associated factors, and prescribing patterns in Dutch primary care from 2012-2021. Design 95% CI: 0.40-0.57). The most common combinations were antidepressant–antipsychotic (473 per 100,000), antidepressant–anxiolytic (387 per 100,000), and antidepressant–hypnotics/sedatives (251 per 100,000). Factors associated with polypsychopharmacy included older age, female sex, multiple psychiatric diagnoses, use of analgesics, and high healthcare utilization. Conclusion Polypsychopharmacy in Dutch primary care increased considerably over the past decade, increasing demands on general practice. Although certain regimens may be clinically justified, the upward trend underscores the need for further research into prescribing appropriateness, strategies to optimize psychotropic use, and the role of non-pharmacological treatments in primary care.
Cybulska et al. (Fri,) studied this question.