Accumulation of Good Intentions: How Individual Practice Guidelines Lead to Polypharmacy in the Treatment of Patients with Polytrauma

Lindsey Brown-Taylor, CARLOS JARAMILLO, Blessen C. Eapen, Tracy Kretzmer, Lindsey P. Gavin, Tyler Cooper, Mary J. Pugh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Polytrauma clinical triad (PCT) is the comorbid occurrence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and pain after trauma. No clinical practice guidelines for postacute care of patients with PCT currently exist; instead, clinical practice guidelines have been published for the three conditions (TBI, PTSD, and pain) as distinct clinical entities. Using multiple, individual practice guidelines for a patient with PCT may lead to unintended prescription of multiple and potentially adversely interacting medications (ie, polypharmacy). Polypharmacy, especially that which includes central nervous system-acting medications, may lead to overdose, suicidality, and chronic symptomatology. Current individual guidelines for each condition of PCT do not address how to coordinate care for the polytraumatic diagnosis. The purpose of this Practice Management piece is to describe the unintended consequences of polypharmacy in patients with PCT and to discuss mitigation approaches including rational prescribing, nonpharmacologic alternatives, and interdisciplinary coordination.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1169-1175
Number of pages7
JournalPM and R
Volume13
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2021
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
  • Rehabilitation
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Accumulation of Good Intentions: How Individual Practice Guidelines Lead to Polypharmacy in the Treatment of Patients with Polytrauma'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this