title: Psychotropic drugs in patients with Alzheimer's Disease: a longitudinal study by the Registry of Dementias of Girona (ReDeGi) in Catalonia, Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Psychotropic drugs are usually prescribed to deal with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, especially when nonpharmacologic approaches are not available or have limited efficacy. Poor outcomes and serious adverse events of the drugs used must be addressed, and risk-benefit ratios need to be considered. The aim of this longitudinal study was to describe the evolution of dispensation of psychotropic drugs in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to identify the associated demographic and clinical variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal study using 698 cases with AD included in the Registry of Dementias of Girona in 2007 and 2008 and followed up during 3 years. Drugs were categorized according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to detect the variables associated with the use of antipsychotics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), anxiolytics, and hypnotics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the patients, 51.2% consumed antipsychotics at least once during the three years of the study, whereas 73.3% and 58.2% consumed SSRIs and anxiolytics, respectively; 32.8% used hypnotics. Antipsychotic use was associated with a diagnosis of AD with delusions) [odds ratio (OR) = 5.7] and with increased behavior disorders (OR = 1.2). Patients with AD with depressed mood were more likely to be treated with SSRIs (OR = 3.1), while being a woman was associated with increased dispensation of anxiolytics (OR = 1.9) and SSRIs (OR = 2.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consumption of psychotropic drugs by the patients with AD registered in the Registry of Dementias of Girona is very high. Despite all the described adverse effects and recommendations of caution in their use, antipsychotics still are extensively used.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Investigation of Girona (IdIBGi), IAS Research Unit, Salt, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Laia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calvó-Perxas
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Investigation of Girona (IdIBGi), IAS Research Unit, Salt, Catalonia, Spain. Electronic address: recerca@ias.scs.es.
authors.forename: Oriol
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Turró-Garriga
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Hospital de Figueres, Figueres, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguirregomozcorta
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Hospital d'Olot, Olot, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bisbe
authors.affiliation: Dementia Unit, Serveis de Salut Integrats del Baix Empordà, Palamós, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Erélido
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Investigation of Girona (IdIBGi), IAS Research Unit, Salt, Catalonia, Spain; Dementia Unit, Hospital de Santa Caterina, Salt, Catalonia, Spain; Department of Medicine, University of Girona, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Secundino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: López-Pousa
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Hospital de Campdevànol, Campdevànol, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manzano
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Unit, Health Region of Girona, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.affiliation: Dementia Unit, Hospital de Santa Caterina, Salt, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Imma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pericot-Nierga
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics and Neurology Department, Hospital de Blanes, Blanes, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Perkal
authors.affiliation: Neurodegenerative Disease Unit, Hospital Universitari Dr. Josep Trueta, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ramió
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Investigation of Girona (IdIBGi), IAS Research Unit, Salt, Catalonia, Spain; Dementia Unit, Hospital de Santa Caterina, Salt, Catalonia, Spain; Department of Medicine, University of Girona, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vilalta-Franch
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Investigation of Girona (IdIBGi), IAS Research Unit, Salt, Catalonia, Spain; Department of Medicine, University of Girona, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garre-Olmo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012042:Registries; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Antipsychotics; Drug prescription; SSRI; anxiolytics; dementia