Antipsychotic Drug Use Down Among Long Stay Nursing Home Residents: Open Minds

Antipsychotic drugs have been widely used in nursing homes to manage behavioral problems, such as agitation and aggression, in residents with dementia. However, concerns about the potential risks associated with antipsychotic use, including falls, strokes, and death, have led to a growing movement to reduce their use.

A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine provides encouraging evidence that efforts to reduce antipsychotic use in nursing homes are having a positive impact. The study found that the use of antipsychotic drugs among long-stay nursing home residents declined significantly between 2011 and 2017.

Antipsychotic Drug Use Down 9.1% Among Long-Stay Nursing Home Residents (OPEN MINDS Weekly News Wire Book 2024)

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Methods

The study was conducted using data from the National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS),a nationally representative survey of nursing homes in the United States. The NNHS collects data on a variety of topics, including resident characteristics, health status, and medication use.

For this study, the researchers analyzed data from 11,955 long-stay nursing home residents who were interviewed in 2011 and 2017. The researchers defined long-stay residents as those who had been living in a nursing home for at least 90 days.

Results

The researchers found that the prevalence of antipsychotic drug use among long-stay nursing home residents declined from 24.0% in 2011 to 18.1% in 2017. This represents a relative decline of 24.6%.

The decline in antipsychotic use was seen across all types of nursing homes, including for-profit, non-profit, and government-owned nursing homes. The decline was also seen in all regions of the country.

Discussion

The findings of this study provide encouraging evidence that efforts to reduce antipsychotic drug use in nursing homes are having a positive impact. The decline in antipsychotic use suggests that nursing homes are increasingly recognizing the potential risks associated with these drugs and are taking steps to reduce their use.

There are a number of factors that may have contributed to the decline in antipsychotic use in nursing homes. One factor is the growing awareness of the potential risks associated with these drugs. Another factor is the development of new non-pharmacological approaches to managing behavioral problems in residents with dementia.

The decline in antipsychotic use is a positive development for nursing home residents. Antipsychotic drugs can have serious side effects, and their use should be carefully considered. The findings of this study suggest that nursing homes are increasingly taking steps to reduce the use of these drugs and are exploring alternative approaches to managing behavioral problems in residents with dementia.

The decline in antipsychotic drug use among long-stay nursing home residents is a positive development. This decline suggests that nursing homes are increasingly recognizing the potential risks associated with these drugs and are taking steps to reduce their use.

More research is needed to identify the factors that have contributed to the decline in antipsychotic use and to evaluate the impact of this decline on the quality of care for nursing home residents.

References

1. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disFree Downloads (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.
2. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2017). National Nursing Home Survey: 2011-2017. Baltimore, MD: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
3. Kales, H. C., & Tulsky, J. A. (2017). Antipsychotic drug use in nursing homes: A systematic review. JAMA Internal Medicine, 177(1),112-121.
4. National Institute on Aging. (2018). Antipsychotic drugs for dementia: What you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/antipsychotic-drugs-dementia-what-you-need-know

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Antipsychotic Drug Use Down 9.1% Among Long-Stay Nursing Home Residents (OPEN MINDS Weekly News Wire Book 2024)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	351 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	3 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE