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Trends in treatment with antipsychotic medication in relation to national directives, in people with dementia - a review of the Swedish context

Karlsson, Staffan LU ; Rahm Hallberg, Ingalill LU ; Midlöv, Patrik LU orcid and Fagerström, Cecilia LU (2017) In BMC Psychiatry 17(1).
Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to explore trends in treatment with antipsychotic medication in Swedish dementia care in nursing homes as reported in the most recent empirical studies on the topic, and to relate these trends to directives from the national authorities. Methods: The study included two scoping review studies based on searches of electronic databases as well as the Swedish directives in the field. Results: During the past decade, directives have been developed for antipsychotic medication in Sweden. These directives were generic at first, but have become increasingly specific and restrictive with time. The scoping review showed that treatment with antipsychotic drugs varied between 6% and 38%, and was higher in... (More)

Background: The aim of this study was to explore trends in treatment with antipsychotic medication in Swedish dementia care in nursing homes as reported in the most recent empirical studies on the topic, and to relate these trends to directives from the national authorities. Methods: The study included two scoping review studies based on searches of electronic databases as well as the Swedish directives in the field. Results: During the past decade, directives have been developed for antipsychotic medication in Sweden. These directives were generic at first, but have become increasingly specific and restrictive with time. The scoping review showed that treatment with antipsychotic drugs varied between 6% and 38%, and was higher in younger older persons and in those with moderate cognitive impairment and living in nursing homes for people with dementia. A decreasing trend in antipsychotic use has been seen over the last 15 years. Conclusions: Directives from the authorities in Sweden may have had an impact on treatment with antipsychotic medication for people with dementia. Treatment with antipsychotic medication has decreased, while treatment with combinations of psychotropic medications is common. National directives may possibly be even more effective, if applied in combination with systematic follow-ups.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Antipsychotic medication, Dementia, Directive, Drug utilization
in
BMC Psychiatry
volume
17
issue
1
article number
251
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • scopus:85023633758
  • pmid:28705243
  • wos:000405824700002
ISSN
1471-244X
DOI
10.1186/s12888-017-1409-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
35858612-9332-4bba-97b7-23e8ee25fb21
date added to LUP
2017-08-02 11:57:42
date last changed
2024-04-14 15:09:51
@article{35858612-9332-4bba-97b7-23e8ee25fb21,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: The aim of this study was to explore trends in treatment with antipsychotic medication in Swedish dementia care in nursing homes as reported in the most recent empirical studies on the topic, and to relate these trends to directives from the national authorities. Methods: The study included two scoping review studies based on searches of electronic databases as well as the Swedish directives in the field. Results: During the past decade, directives have been developed for antipsychotic medication in Sweden. These directives were generic at first, but have become increasingly specific and restrictive with time. The scoping review showed that treatment with antipsychotic drugs varied between 6% and 38%, and was higher in younger older persons and in those with moderate cognitive impairment and living in nursing homes for people with dementia. A decreasing trend in antipsychotic use has been seen over the last 15 years. Conclusions: Directives from the authorities in Sweden may have had an impact on treatment with antipsychotic medication for people with dementia. Treatment with antipsychotic medication has decreased, while treatment with combinations of psychotropic medications is common. National directives may possibly be even more effective, if applied in combination with systematic follow-ups.</p>}},
  author       = {{Karlsson, Staffan and Rahm Hallberg, Ingalill and Midlöv, Patrik and Fagerström, Cecilia}},
  issn         = {{1471-244X}},
  keywords     = {{Antipsychotic medication; Dementia; Directive; Drug utilization}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{07}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Psychiatry}},
  title        = {{Trends in treatment with antipsychotic medication in relation to national directives, in people with dementia - a review of the Swedish context}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1409-9}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s12888-017-1409-9}},
  volume       = {{17}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}