TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines for dementia: Time for action? What will be required before global de-prescribing?
AU - Ralph, Stephen J.
AU - Espinet, Anthony J.
N1 - Funding Information:
In 2012, the Halting Antipsychotic use in Long Term care (HALT) project was funded by the Australian Department of Social Services through the Aged Care Service Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grants Fund (Brodaty & Jessop, 2014). A targeted, evidence-based training package was developed to up-skill general practitioners and nursing home staff in this area, as well as in the quality use of medicines. The outcome of this study was first announced in the HALT September 2015 Newsletter (#06) and at a national conference in 2015 with follow-up of 76% of participants de-prescribed antipsychotics and 98% of those completely ceased (Jessop et al., 2017). Of these participants, 79% remained without this medication up to 12 months post cessation. Overall, no change in behavioural symptoms was noted amongst participants and many showed improvement.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2017.
PY - 2019/8/1
Y1 - 2019/8/1
N2 - Comparing how nations including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and others have made attempts aimed at improving the care and treatment of dementia patients can provide useful insights into methods that prove successful. The UK-based 2009 Banerjee Report provided international leadership in addressing treatment and practices for dementia patients with an aim to reduce prescribing of antipsychotic drugs. A historical account of the different government policies and developments with the similar aims of de-prescribing are examined. Using Australia as one example, different national strategies are discussed in the context of those that have been tried and failed. In addition, policies that have successfully reduced the controversial current practices of overprescribing antipsychotics or related psychotropic drugs for dementia patients are presented. The evidence overwhelmingly indicates such treatments only exacerbate the disease or precipitate death – giving justification to the recent call for use of chemical restraints such as antipsychotics to be included under ‘Elder Abuse’ when considering law reform necessary to regulate compliance.
AB - Comparing how nations including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and others have made attempts aimed at improving the care and treatment of dementia patients can provide useful insights into methods that prove successful. The UK-based 2009 Banerjee Report provided international leadership in addressing treatment and practices for dementia patients with an aim to reduce prescribing of antipsychotic drugs. A historical account of the different government policies and developments with the similar aims of de-prescribing are examined. Using Australia as one example, different national strategies are discussed in the context of those that have been tried and failed. In addition, policies that have successfully reduced the controversial current practices of overprescribing antipsychotics or related psychotropic drugs for dementia patients are presented. The evidence overwhelmingly indicates such treatments only exacerbate the disease or precipitate death – giving justification to the recent call for use of chemical restraints such as antipsychotics to be included under ‘Elder Abuse’ when considering law reform necessary to regulate compliance.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85070340073&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1471301217746769
DO - 10.1177/1471301217746769
M3 - Article
C2 - 29271252
AN - SCOPUS:85070340073
VL - 18
SP - 2322
EP - 2339
JO - Dementia: the international journal of social research and practice
JF - Dementia: the international journal of social research and practice
SN - 1471-3012
IS - 6
ER -