C. Wilhelmgossling, ANTIPSYCHOTICS GIVEN TO ELDERLY DEMENTED PATIENTS - COURSE IN NURSING-HOMES AFTER PSYCHIATRIC-HOSPITAL TREATMENT, Nervenarzt, 69(11), 1998, pp. 999-1006
Psychopharmacological treatment of all demented patients (n=49),discha
rged to nursing homes after gerontopsychiatric hospital treatment in 1
992 and 1993, was analyzed. In spite of the higher risk of secondary e
ffects in elderly,demented people are after prescriptions for psychoph
armacologic medications, especially neuroleptics. It was shown that th
e residents in nursing homes receive significantly more neuroleptics t
han patients who are discharged (P=0.0001). Prescriptions for benzodia
zepines were two times higher, whereas clomethiazole was rarely given.
In nursing homes these substances were prescribed as continuous treat
ment. Most prescriptions resulted from agitation,sleep disturbances or
aggressive behavior. Astonishingly,the patients without positive effe
cts from treatment,who worsened regarding behavioral complications of
dementia, obtained the highest doses of neuroleptics.