Transcript The Steps Approach: A way to Rational Psychopharmacology by

The Philippine College of
Psychopharmacology
The STEPS Approach:
A Rational Way to Psychopharmacology
A Teaching Module for Primary Care Physicians
WHAT IS THE STEPS APPROACH?
(Adapted from Preskorn)
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S – Safety
T – Tolerability
E – Efficacy
P – Price
S – Simplicity
SAFETY OF A DRUG:
• Most important
• Absence of life threatening
complications/side effects
• Can be given for a long time
• Can be given to all age groups
TOLERABILITY OF A DRUG:
• Closely related to safety
• Absence of debilitating / permanent adverse
effects
• Mild / transient side effects
• Minimal drug – drug interaction
EFFICACY OF A DRUG:
• Works the way it should be
• As important as safety
• For a wide range of patients (broad
spectrum)
• Should be better than or superior to placebo
PRICE OF A DRUG:
• Should be affordable
• Could be (not very) expensive but costeffective in the long run
• Quality is not sacrificed in terms of safety,
tolerabilty, and efficacy
SIMPLICITY OF A DRUG:
• Preferably single dosing
• No need for expensive or laborious
laboratory monitoring
• Available in several convenient
preparations
The BEST DRUG
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One that is SAFE
One that is TOLERABLE
One that is EFFICACIOUS
One that is PRICED right
One that is SIMPLE to administer
The STEPS Approach
• Provides an easy, quick, and reliable
means of choosing the right drugs for the
right conditions
• It is, as it were, a step in the right direction
THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED!
(now, dear friends, step right in)