A NEW study sheds light on the risks associated with antipsychotic medication use among residents in long-term care (LTC) facilities, suggesting these treatments may exacerbate behavioural symptoms over time. The research, analysed data from over 494,000 LTC residents across Canada between 2000 and 2022, focusing on the impact of antipsychotics on behavioural health outcomes.
The study found that 26.4% of residents used antipsychotics at the start of the study, and 17.9% experienced worsening behaviour during follow-up. After accounting for baseline differences using propensity score matching, the results showed that antipsychotic use was significantly associated with a 20-27% increased risk of worsening behaviour, depending on the cohort analysis.
The findings call for caution when prescribing antipsychotics in LTC facilities, especially for residents without severe aggressive behaviour at baseline. Researchers emphasise the need for alternative approaches to managing behavioural symptoms and advocate for more detailed studies to explore nuanced behavioural changes and their underlying causes.
This research underscores the importance of personalised care plans and highlights the critical need for judicious use of antipsychotics in vulnerable populations.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
Leme DEC et al. A Longitudinal Treatment Effect Analysis of Antipsychotics on Behavior of Residents in Long-Term Care. JAMDA.2024;25(11):105255.
