title: Use of neuroleptics: study of institutionalized elderly people in Montreal, Que.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of neuroleptic use in long-term care institutions in the greater Montreal, Que, area and to estimate the extent of use of atypical neuroleptics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study in which single-day chart reviews were conducted to evaluate the prevalence of use of conventional and atypical neuroleptics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten long-term care institutions in the greater Montreal area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two thousand, four hundred sixty residents aged 65 years or older living in 10 long-term care institutions in and around Montreal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-day medication profiles compiled by institutions' pharmacists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among patients in the 10 participating institutions, use of neuroleptics ranged from 15% to 37% with a mean of 25.2% (620/2460). Atypical neuroleptics were prescribed to 15.6%, conventional neuroleptics to 7.6%, and a combination of both to 2.0% of the 2460 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of neuroleptics was relatively prevalent, and there was wide use of atypical neuroleptics in Montreal-area long-term care institutions. There is little information on the safety and efficacy of these medications for institutionalized elderly people.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Montreal, Quebec. nathalie.champoux@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Champoux
authors.forename: Johanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monette
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monette
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galbaud du Fort
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wolfson
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Le Cruguel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011792:Quebec; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents