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Pharmacopsychiatry 2012; 45(05): 182-188
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1301285
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Antipsychotic Drugs Predominate in Pharmacotherapy of Nursing Home Residents with Dementia

M. Huber   *
1   Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
,
M. Kölzsch   *
1   Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
,
M. A. Rapp
2   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (CCM), Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
,
I. Wulff
3   Institute of Medical Sociology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
,
S. Kalinowski
3   Institute of Medical Sociology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
,
J. Bolbrinker
1   Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
,
W. Hofmann
3   Institute of Medical Sociology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
,
J. Scholze
4   Department of Medicine, Outpatient Clinic, Charité Centrum für Innere Medizin und Dermatologie, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
,
D. Dräger
3   Institute of Medical Sociology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
,
R. Kreutz
1   Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
4   Department of Medicine, Outpatient Clinic, Charité Centrum für Innere Medizin und Dermatologie, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 29 September 2011
revised 20 December 2011

accepted 22 December 2011

Publication Date:
19 March 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction:

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of benzodiazepines, antidementia and antipsychotic drug prescriptions in nursing home residents (NHR).

Methods:

Data of a German health insurance company were retrospectively analyzed for the year 2008.

Results:

The study cohort comprised 13 042 NHR (82% women, mean age 83.6±7 years). Following analgetics, antipsychotic drugs were the second most frequently prescribed drug group with 13.3% of all prescriptions. Dementia was diagnosed in 8 017 (61.5%) NHR. Thereof 51.6% received an antipsychotic, 17.3% a benzodiazepine and 15.2% an antidementia pharmaceutical, respectively. 18.1% of NHR with dementia and antipsychotic drug prescriptions were in combined treatment with antidementia pharmaceuticals. The rate of antipsychotic drug prescribing was significantly doubled in NHR with dementia compared to those without this diagnosis (p<0.01); the most frequently prescribed antipsychotics were melperone, risperidone and pipamperone.

Discussion:

This study demonstrates the wide-spread use of psychotropic drugs in NHR. Moreover, dementia in NHR was associated with antipsychotic drug prescribing in every second patient. This highlights the need for further studies analyzing alternative treatments for dementia-related symptoms.

Key words

dementia - antipsychotic drugs - anti-dementia drugs - nursing home residents - elderly
*

* These authors made similar contributions to this work.


 

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