title: Multi-psychotropic drug prescription and the association to neuropsychiatric symptoms in three Norwegian nursing home cohorts between 2004 and 2011.
abstract: Neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as affective symptoms, psychosis, agitation, and apathy are common among nursing home patients with and without dementia. Treatment with one or more psychotropic drug is often without explicit clinical indication, despite low treatment efficacy, and potential side effects. We aim to investigate the multi-psychotropic drug use to identify factors and patient characteristics associated with multi-use.
  
  
  
  We analysed three cohorts from 129 Norwegian nursing homes, collected between 2004 and 2011. Patients (N = 4739) were assessed with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory - Nursing Home version (NPI-NH), Clinical Dementia Rating scale, and Physical Self Maintenance Scale. We used ordinal logistic regression to analyse associations between psychotropics (antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, hypnotics, and anti-dementia drugs), patient characteristics, and neuropsychiatric symptoms.
  
  
  
  Patients used on average 6.6 drugs; 27 % used no psychotropics, 32 % one, and 41 % multiple psychotropic drugs (24 % two, 17 % ≥3). Thirty-nine percent were prescribed antidepressants, 30 % sedatives, 24 % anxiolytics, and 20 % antipsychotics. The total NPI-NH score was associated with multi-use (OR 1.02, 95 % CI 1.02-1.03), and increased from a mean of 13.5 (SD 16.3) for patients using none, to 25.5 (21.8) for patients using ≥3 psychotropics. Affective symptoms (depression and anxiety) were most strongly associated with multi-psychotropic drug use (OR 1.10, 95 % CI: 1.09-1.12). Female gender, independency in daily living, younger age, dementia, and many regular drugs were also associated with multi-use.
  
  
  
  Forty-one percent were exposed to multi-psychotropic drug prescriptions. Contrary to current evidence and guidelines, there is an extensive use of multiple psychotropic drugs in patients with severe NPS and dementia.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Elderly and Nursing Home Medicine, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, PO Box 7804, N-5018, Bergen, Norway. christine.gulla@uib.no.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gulla
authors.affiliation: Centre for Old Age Psychiatric Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, PO Box 2136, N-3103, Tonsberg, Ottestad, Norway.|Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Ageing and Health, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tonsberg, Norway.|Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Geir
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Selbaek
authors.affiliation: Centre for Elderly and Nursing Home Medicine, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, PO Box 7804, N-5018, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flo
authors.affiliation: Research group in Social Pharmacy, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, and Centre for Pharmacy, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.|Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, PO Box 7804, N-5018, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Reidun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kjome
authors.affiliation: Centre for Old Age Psychiatric Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, PO Box 2136, N-3103, Tonsberg, Ottestad, Norway.|Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Ageing and Health, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tonsberg, Norway.|Faculty of Health, Care and Nursing, Gjovik University College, Gjovik, Norway.|Faculty of Health, Care and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Gjøvik, N-2821, Gjøvik, Norway.
authors.forename: Øyvind
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Kirkevold
authors.affiliation: Centre for Elderly and Nursing Home Medicine, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, PO Box 7804, N-5018, Bergen, Norway.|Municipality of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Bettina S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Husebo
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000067490:Prescription Drug Overuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: Anti-dementia drugs; Antidepressants; Antipsychotics; Anxiolytics; Dementia; Hypnotics; Neuropsychiatric symptoms; Nursing homes; Psychotropic drugs