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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Behavioral disturbances and pharmacological treatment of patients with dementia in family caregiving: a 2-year follow-up | | Author(s) | Sölve Elmståhl, Ingegerd Stenberg, Lena Annerstedt |
| Journal title | International Psychogeriatrics, vol 10, no 3, September 1998 |
| Pages | pp 239-252 |
| Keywords | Dementia ; Behaviour disorders ; Drugs ; Care homes ; Living in groups in institutions ; Residents [care homes] ; Longitudinal surveys ; Sweden. |
| Annotation | Behavioural disturbances are common in dementia. Polypharmacy due to progression of disease and fluctuation of symptoms among patients might increase risk of over-treatment and/or under-treatment. This Swedish longitudinal study examined drug prescription in persons with dementia after their re-location to group-living care units. A total of 76 older persons were assessed before, 12 months after, and 24 months after relocation. Findings showed that 80% of the subjects were prescribed drugs; 40% were given neuroleptics and 9% were given antidepressants. During the 2-year follow-up, polypharmacy increased; patients with 5 drugs or more increased from 15% to 35%; usage of neuroleptics or sedatives, as required, increased from 8% to 25%. Depressive mood was noted in 86% after 2 years and 74% showed aggressiveness and anxiety, but only 12% of those with depressive symptoms were on antidepressants. Analgesics were prescribed for 26% of the subjects. The study concluded that the increase of polypharmacy calls for careful monitoring of adverse drug reactions. (AKM). |
| Accession Number | CPA-981120402 A |
| Classmark | EA: EP: LLD: KW: KAB: KX: 3J: 76P |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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