Conducting a focused accounting of a residents’ medications can help to reduce the prescribing of antipsychotics.
That’s according to a new study by University College London researchers, published in JAMA. Based on a review of 26 different studies, the authors found clear evidence that undertaking what they call a “psychotropic medication review” was associated with a reduction in the prescription of such drugs among elderly nursing home populations with cognitive impairment. Before-and-after studies consistently showed a drop, regardless of the population studied.
While the med reviews sound basic, they require “complex intervention”, with wide variation in professionals involved.
“More robust evidence is needed before programs of focused psychotropic medication review can be recommended as part of routine care for any patient group,” authors concluded. The nursing home industry also must work to standardize processes, terminology and desired outcomes from these reviews, which authors said could be achieved by creating a national or international collaboration tied to medication review research
