title: Bedside assessment of swallowing in elderly subjects using psychotropic drugs.
abstract: Neuroleptic drugs are used in several mental disorders, but are suspected of causing oropharyngeal dysphagia, mainly in the elderly.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of neuroleptic agents on swallowing of institutionalized older people.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study of swallowing in 47 subjects that either used or did not use neuroleptic drugs. Bedside swallowing tests with foods of four different consistencies were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between the two groups. Users of neuroleptic medications showed a higher percentage of multiple swallowing while non-users had a higher percentage of oral food escape.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neuroleptic agents alone do not affect the mechanism of swallowing in the elderly; nonetheless. Further studies with a larger number of individuals and specific swallowing tests are needed.
authors.affiliation: Master's degree, speech therapist.
authors.forename: Marisa Portes
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Fioravanti
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate student at the Botucatu Medical School (Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - UNESP).
authors.forename: Fernanda Balero
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Miyahara
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate student at the Botucatu Medical School (Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - UNESP).
authors.forename: Heloisa Helena
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Cavallari
authors.affiliation: Assistant professor; associate professor. Electronic address: onivaldobretan@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Onivaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bretan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents