title: Only 10% of the psychotropic drug use for neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia is fully appropriate. The PROPER I-study.
abstract: This study explores the appropriateness of psychotropic drug (PD) use for neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in nursing home patients with dementia.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional study on 559 patients with dementia residing on dementia special care units in Dutch nursing homes was conducted. Appropriateness of PD use was assessed using the Appropriate Psychotropic drug use In Dementia (APID) index. The APID index score is calculated using information about individual PDs from patients' medical records. The index encompasses seven (different) domains of appropriateness, i.e. indication, evaluation, dosage, drug-drug interactions, drug-disease interactions, duplications, and therapy duration.
  
  
  
  A total of 578 PDs were used for NPS by 60% of the nursing home patients. Indication, evaluation, and therapy duration contributed the most to inappropriate use. Ten per cent of the PDs scored fully appropriate according to the APID index sum score, 36% scored fully appropriate for indication, 46% scored fully appropriate for evaluation, and 58% scored fully appropriate for therapy duration. Antidepressants were used the most appropriately, and antiepileptics the most inappropriately.
  
  
  
  The minority of the PD use was fully appropriate. The results imply that PD use for NPS in dementia can be improved; the appropriateness should be optimized with a clinical focus on the appropriate indications, evaluations, and therapy duration.
authors: Department of Primary and Community Care,Centre for Family Medicine,Geriatric Care and Public Health,Radboud University Medical Centre,Nijmegen,the Netherlands.
authors: Klaas
authors: K
authors: van der Spek
authors: Department of Primary and Community Care,Centre for Family Medicine,Geriatric Care and Public Health,Radboud University Medical Centre,Nijmegen,the Netherlands.
authors: Debby L
authors: DL
authors: Gerritsen
authors: Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine/EMGO + Institute for Health and Care Research,VU Medical Center,Amsterdam,the Netherlands.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Smalbrugge
authors: Dutch Institute for Rational Use of Medicine,Utrecht,the Netherlands.
authors: Marjorie H J M G
authors: MH
authors: Nelissen-Vrancken
authors: Department of Primary and Community Care,Centre for Family Medicine,Geriatric Care and Public Health,Radboud University Medical Centre,Nijmegen,the Netherlands.
authors: Roland B
authors: RB
authors: Wetzels
authors: Department of Primary and Community Care,Centre for Family Medicine,Geriatric Care and Public Health,Radboud University Medical Centre,Nijmegen,the Netherlands.
authors: Claudia H W
authors: CH
authors: Smeets
authors: Department of General Practice,University of Groningen,University Medical Center Groningen,Groningen,the Netherlands.
authors: Sytse U
authors: SU
authors: Zuidema
authors: Department of Primary and Community Care,Centre for Family Medicine,Geriatric Care and Public Health,Radboud University Medical Centre,Nijmegen,the Netherlands.
authors: Raymond T C M
authors: RT
authors: Koopmans
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000067561:Potentially Inappropriate Medication List; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD); dementia; psychopharmacology