Impact of an awareness of the doctors treating on the decrease of the prescriptions of antipsychotics in the demented residents in Ehpad.

BACKGROUND

Despite the context of several national warnings, antipsychotics drugs are commonly used to treat behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD).

AIM: To observe a decrease of antipsychotic drug prescription, in old NH (nursing homes) residents with dementia, after an awareness of their general practitioner.

METHODS

Observational, prospective, multicenter study. The study population corresponds to NH residents with dementia, and antipsychotic drug consumption, in nursing homes volunteered to participate. Awareness-raising is carried out through information documents. The evaluation criteria is the proportion of residents under antipsychotics after sensitization.

RESULTS

out of the 30 nursing homes included, 26.7% of the patients were prescribed at least one antipsychotic and 15% were both demented and under antipsychotics. A total of 317 residents with dementia and antipsychotics were included 15% of the total NH population. Psychotropic drug co-prescriptions was very frequent 43.2% also used benzodiazepines, 37.2% anxiolytics and 33.1% antidepressants. Agitation, aggressiveness, opposition to care and wandering were the most commonly BPSD encountered. After a first sensitization, we obtained a 15.5% decrease of antipsychotic prescriptions.

CONCLUSION

A personalized sensitization towards GP allowed a reduction of antipsychotic drugs prescription in NH residents with dementia and BPSD.