title: Pharmacologic management by clinical pharmacists of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in nursing home residents: results from a pilot study.
abstract: A pharmacist-based consulting service was developed for the pharmacologic management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in a nursing home setting. Patients were evaluated using the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease (BEHAVE-AD) rating scale, and pharmacotherapy was selected using a structured approach. Eleven patients were evaluated and treated with various psychotropic drugs. The most commonly administered drug was trazodone at a mean dosage of 70 mg/day (range 50-100 mg/day). Nine of the patients demonstrated satisfactory treatment responses as shown by a decreased BEHAVE-AD score of 30% or more (average BEHAVE-AD scores at baseline and 1 month after treatment were 13 +/- 4 and 4 +/- 3, respectively), and no clinical side effects were observed. The service was well received by the facility staff and primary care providers. These preliminary results suggest that pharmacists can play an important role in the pharmacotherapy of BPSD with positive clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas 79106-1712, USA. carlosr@cortex.ama.ttuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Carlos H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Rojas-Fernandez
authors.forename: Marty
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eng
authors.forename: Nicole D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Allie
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010601:Pharmacology, Clinical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014196:Trazodone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D014196:Trazodone