E. Mcinnes et al., PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION USE IN A SAMPLE OF FRAIL, ELDERLY INPATIENTS IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, Australian journal on ageing, 17(2), 1998, pp. 65-70
Objective: To examine rates of use and predictors of psychotropic drug
use among a group of frail, aged inpatients admitted under the care o
f a geriatrician. To examine correlates of psychotropic drug use at di
scharge with inpatient characteristics. Method: The number of psychotr
opic medications taken were obtained from a medical records audit of 3
11 frail inpatients under the care of a geriatrician. Medication taken
at the point of admission and at discharge, and rates of commencement
and cessation of different psychotropic agents were measured. Results
: Patients discharged to a nursing home were more likely to be admitte
d and discharged on anti-psychotics and anxiolytics/hypnotics. Subject
s from an English-speaking background were more likely to be prescribe
d anti-depressants on discharge and there was a trend for females to b
e discharged on anxiolytic/hypnotic medication. Subjects discharged on
anti-psychotics were also more likely to have lower MMSE scores and h
igher average DRG cost weights. However, lower numbers of patients adm
itted from nursing homes and hostels were discharged on psychotropic m
edication. For those discharged home, the reverse was true. Conclusion
: The finding that fewer nursing home and hostel patients were dischar
ged on such medication that admitted on it, suggests that careful revi
ew of psychotropics for frail aged inpatients admitted under the care
of a geriatrician is practised.