title: Effect of humour therapy on psychotropic medication use in nursing homes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Play Up humour therapy on antipsychotic, benzodiazepine and antidepressant use in Australian nursing homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Play Up is a humour therapy program that has been implemented in Australian nursing homes. This study was an uncontrolled retrospective review of psychotropic medication charts of 406 residents in thirty-three nursing homes before and after 12 weeks of participation in Play Up. Prevalence and mean daily equivalent doses of psychotropic medication use were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant reductions from before to after the Play Up program in the prevalence of any psychotropic medication use, antipsychotic use and benzodiazepine use (P = 0.001, 0.02, 0.007, respectively). Mean daily dose equivalents of pro re nata (PRN) antipsychotics and PRN benzodiazepines significantly reduced over time (P = 0.007; P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Play Up was associated with an overall decline in the use of psychotropic medications. Further trials are required to confirm and better define this association.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Jerome By
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Leow
authors.affiliation: Sydney Nursing School, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pont
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Lee-Fay
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Low
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001315:Australia; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines
keywords: aged care; humour therapy; nursing homes; psychosocial interventions; psychotropics