[Psychoactive drug use in nursing homes].
BACKGROUND
Our purpose was to know the use of psychoactive drugs including neuroleptics (NL), benzodiazepines (BNZ) and antidepressants (AD) in nursing homes (NH) in the city of Barcelona.


METHODS
Cross-sectional descriptive study of 384 clinical records of people living in 19 NH. The correct use of drugs was estimated by Garrad's and Beers et al criteria.


RESULTS
Average age (SD) of residents was 83 years (2.0). The average consumption of drugs was 5 (2.7); 248 individuals (64.6%) were taking at least one psychoactive drug: 81 (21%) consumed NL, 179 (46.6%) BNZ and 73 (19%) AD. 48 (12.5%) NH residents consumed long-acting BNZ and 26 (6.7%) had surpassed the recommended time of consumption for short-acting BNZ. In 21 (26%) NH residents who consumed NL, its use would not be justified.


CONCLUSIONS
It is necessary to reduce the use of long-acting BNZ, to encourage a correct use of NL and to achieve a correct identification of depressive disorders in NH.
Garolera
D
D
Unitat d'Atenció Domiciliària Geriàtrica. Dirección de Atención Primaria Eixample. Institut Català de la Salut. Barcelona.
Bendahan
G
G
Gras
R
R
Benaque
A
A
San José
A
A
Vilardell
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D001569:Benzodiazepines