[Antipsychotic treatment of dementia after publication of new risks]

Psychiatr Prax. 2010 Mar;37(2):68-70. doi: 10.1055/s-0029-1220368. Epub 2009 Sep 1.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Objective: We investigated the change of antipsychotic treatment of elderly persons with dementia after several publications indicated an association between use of antipsychotics and cerebrovascular events in this population.

Methods: Twice a year, the complete medication, age, diagnosis and gender of all inpatients in 30 German psychiatric sites is collected anonymously in a data base for statistical analysis.

Results: The treatment changed for the benefit of Quetiapine and Haloperidol. The use of both Risperidone and Olanzapine decreased markedly.

Conclusion: The antipsychotic treatment changed due to critical publication. But, the evidence for the risk profile is still a matter of debate.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems / statistics & numerical data
  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy*
  • Alzheimer Disease / epidemiology
  • Antipsychotic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cerebral Infarction / chemically induced*
  • Cerebral Infarction / epidemiology
  • Dibenzothiazepines / adverse effects
  • Dibenzothiazepines / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Drug Utilization / statistics & numerical data
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
  • Evidence-Based Medicine / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Germany
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data
  • Publication Bias / statistics & numerical data*
  • Quetiapine Fumarate
  • Risk
  • Risperidone / adverse effects
  • Risperidone / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Dibenzothiazepines
  • Quetiapine Fumarate
  • Risperidone