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Are psychosocial interventions effective in reducing antipsychotic use for dementia in care home residents? Current evidence and future perspectives

Part of: BJPsych Advances Cochrane Corner and Round the Corner Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2024

Jiaying Chen Open the ORCID record for Jiaying Chen [Opens in a new window]
Jiaying Chen*
Affiliation:
A core psychiatry trainee with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust in the south of England, currently working at Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK. She has a budding interest in research into mental health of older adults.
*
Correspondence Dr Jiaying Chen. Email: jiaying.chen@psych.ox.ac.uk
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Summary

Antipsychotics are commonly prescribed to manage the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) despite their modest efficacy and significant adverse effects. Psychosocial interventions are recommended as the first-line approach in treating BPSD before considering pharmacological options. A Cochrane Review by Lühnen et al (2023) evaluated the effects of psychosocial interventions on reducing antipsychotic prescription in care homes, and found that no generalisable recommendations can be made based on the currently available evidence. This commentary attempts to critically appraise and add context to the review.

Keywords

Dementias/neurodegenerative diseasesantipsychoticspsychosocial interventionscarersqualitative research
Type
Round the corner
Information
BJPsych Advances , First View , pp. 1 - 5
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Royal College of Psychiatrists

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