Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-7qhmt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T13:14:28.139Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Current use of psychotropic medication in nursing homes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2005

John Snowdon
Affiliation:
University of Sydney, Australia
Susan Day
Affiliation:
Central Sydney Area Health Service, Australia
Wesley Baker
Affiliation:
Northern Sydney Area Health Service, Australia

Abstract

Objective: To examine the current pattern of use of psychotropic medication in Sydney nursing homes and compare this with the pattern noted 5 and 10 years earlier.

Method: Data were recorded from medication cards concerning psychotropic medications prescribed for the 3093 residents in the 51 nursing homes in the Central Sydney Health Area. Documented diagnoses and demographic details were noted from their clinical files.

Results: In late 2003, 47.2% of residents were taking one or more psychotropic drug regularly and another 3.5% had been given “as required” (prn) doses at least once in the preceding 4 weeks. Fewer residents were taking hypnotics (11.3%) and anxiolytics (4.1%) regularly, when compared to 1998, but more were taking antidepressants (20.5%). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were prescribed to 11.4%, venlafaxine to 2.6%, mirtazapine 1.6% and tricyclics to 3.6%. Although the proportion taking antipsychotics had not fallen since 1998, there were over twice as many residents (16.4%) taking atypical neuroleptic medication in 2003 as there were taking conventional neuroleptics (8.1%). Most of them did not have schizophrenia.

Conclusions: There have been further reductions in the use of hypnotics and anxiolytics in Sydney nursing homes, with increased prescription of antidepressants and a striking change towards use of atypical rather than conventional neuroleptic medication.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
International Psychogeriatric Association 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)