Nursing homes need to appropriately evaluate residents
for depression and use antidepressant medication judiciously, according to a
council of long-term care professionals.
The Long Term Care Professional Leadership Council, which
is composed of four different long-term care groups, recently released a
statement about antidepressant use. It follows the release of F-tag 329
Unnecessary Drug guidance in 2006 as well as media scrutiny regarding the use
of antipsychotic drugs for nursing home patients, the group said.
The statement presents instructions to nursing homes
regarding the diagnosis of depression and the use of medication. For example,
nursing homes should diagnose depression carefully, based on established
guidelines, it said. Also, if medication is necessary, carefully consider the
choice of medication, the dose and duration of treatment.
For more information, contact the American College of
Health Care Administrators, the American Medical Directors Association, the
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists or the National Association
Directors of Nursing Administration/Long Term Care.