The elderly safety imperative and antipsychotic usage.
Behavioral and psychotic symptoms are common problems in older adults, and as the population ages, understanding the benefits and risks of antipsychotic usage is increasingly important. In this age group, psychotic symptoms may occur in patients with dementia or as part of schizophrenia, mood disorders, delirium, or delusional disorder. Various antipsychotics have been studied in older adults with psychotic symptoms, demonstrating mixed, but real, benefit, especially in relation to carefully selected patients. Caution is required because of the potential side effects and risks, which include increased mortality and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. This article reviews the use of antipsychotics in older adults, with emphasis on the risks and side effects, particularly in dementia patients with behavioral and psychotic symptoms.
Chahine
Lama M
LM
Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic, OH 44195, USA. ChahinL@ccf.org <ChahinL@ccf.org>
Acar
Diler
D
Chemali
Zeina
Z
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents