RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of compliance with official guidelines for prescribing mood stabilizers among adolescents in Christchurch, New Zealand. METHODS: A retrospective audit of clinical files of patients aged 13-19 years attending inpatient and outpatient services in the Child, Adolescent and Family Service in the Canterbury District catchment area was carried out against set criteria derived from the Ministry of Health Guidelines regarding the use of mood stabilizers (lithium and sodium valproate). A guideline compliance index was also created to measure overall compliance. RESULTS: Over a period of 3 years beginning from January 2000, we identified 68 episodes of initiation among 58 adolescents. Of those, 91.2% were for indications set in the guidelines. More than half appeared to have been given no information about the medication, and only 61.8% had documented consent. Two-thirds had a full laboratory work-up before initiation. More than one-third had no evidence of communication with general practitioners about being initiated on a mood stabilizer. Overall, only 13.2% were 100% compliant and only 50% were 80% compliant. CONCLUSION: In general, mood stabilizers were prescribed as indicated, but adherence to the guidelines beyond that appears to fall short of standards set by the guidelines.