Use of psychotropics among home-dwelling nondemented and demented elderly.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the use of psychotropics in the nondemented and demented elderly.


METHODS
The home-dwelling elderly (n=523) among the random sample of 700 subjects from the total population of individuals aged 75 years or more in 1998 and living in the city of Kuopio, Finland.


METHODS
A trained nurse interviewed the participants about their health and current use of medicines. A geriatrician performed clinical examinations and diagnosed diseases. Dementia and depression were diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria.


RESULTS
The demented subjects used more medicines of all kinds (p<0.01), and especially more psychotropics than the nondemented (p<0.001). One in four demented subjects, compared to one in ten nondemented ones used at least two psychotropics (p<0.01). The demented subjects used antipsychotics six times more often than the nondemented ones (p<0.001). Among the nondemented subjects, one out of two antipsychotics users was suffering from depression according to DSM-IV criteria. Three out of four persons who had dementia with Lewy bodies were using psychotropics. Persons with moderate dementia were more commonly using all kinds of psychotropic preparations especially, antipsychotics three times more commonly than persons with mild or severe dementia.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychotropics, especially antipsychotics, are commonly used in the treatment of both nondemented and demented elderly, even without proper indication. Physicians need more training about the appropriate use of psychotropics to minimize their adverse effects.
Hartikainen
Sirpa
S
Division of Geriatrics, Department of Public Health and General Practice, University of Kuopio, Finland. Sirpa.Hartikainen@uku.fi
Rahkonen
Terhi
T
Kautiainen
Hannu
H
Sulkava
Raimo
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D018577:Homebound Persons / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs