Provision of psychopharmacological services in nursing homes.
We examined the psychopharmacological services provided within 3 months of nursing home (NH) admission to a whole population of newly admitted Florida NH residents 65 years and older (N = 947) for a 1-year period via secondary analyses of selected variables from Medicaid and the Online Survey and Certification and Reporting System. Within 3 months of admission, 12% received nonpsychopharmacological mental health care. However, 71% of new residents received at least one psychoactive medication, and more than 15% were taking four or more psychoactive medications. Most of those being treated with psychoactive medication had not received psychopharmacological treatment 6 months prior to admission (64%) and had not received a psychiatric diagnosis 6 months preceding admission (71%). Blacks were less likely to receive medications than non-Hispanic Whites. Results expand on past research by identifying an increase in the amount of psychoactive medications prescribed to NH residents, a lack of prior psychiatric treatment and diagnoses for those currently receiving psychoactive medications, only limited provision of nonpsychopharmacological mental health care, and racial or ethnic differences in the use of medications by NHs.
Department of Aging and Mental Health Disparities, University of South Florida, Tampa, 33612-3807, USA. vmolinari@fmhi.usf.edu
Victor
V
Molinari
David
D
Chiriboga
Laurence G
LG
Branch
Soyeon
S
Cho
Kristen
K
Turner
Jing
J
Guo
Kathryn
K
Hyer
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019338:Polypharmacy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs