Antipsychotic Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Portuguese Dementia Outpatient Clinic.

IF 0.9 Q3 Medicine

Portuguese Journal of Public Health Pub Date : 2025-12-04 eCollection Date: 2026-02-01 DOI:10.1159/000549206

Mariana Dias da Costa, Ana Verdelho

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Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent confinement have caused a major impact on people living with dementia (PLD). We aimed to ascertain the use of antipsychotic medication in this population due to behavioural symptoms during confinement.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study evaluating clinical registrations, namely the use of psychoactive medication, of PLD followed regularly in a Portuguese dementia outpatient clinic during two different confinement periods.

Results: A total of 101 patients were included. Alzheimer's disease was the most frequent diagnosis, most of them in moderate/severe stage. Antipsychotics were used in 21.7% of patients. During confinement, a residual number of patients needed antipsychotic dose increase.

Conclusion: Confinement due to COVID-19 in this population was not associated with a significant increase of antipsychotics use. We hope our work may help clarify issues related to the need for antipsychotic medication in behavioural symptoms during confinement in PLD.

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葡萄牙痴呆症门诊诊所COVID-19大流行期间抗精神病药物的使用

背景：2019冠状病毒病大流行及其随之而来的禁闭对痴呆症患者（PLD）造成了重大影响。我们的目的是确定在这一人群中使用抗精神病药物由于禁闭期间的行为症状。方法：我们进行了一项回顾性研究，评估临床登记，即精神活性药物的使用，在两个不同的坐月子期间在葡萄牙痴呆症门诊定期随访PLD。结果：共纳入101例患者。阿尔茨海默病是最常见的诊断，大多数在中/重度阶段。21.7%的患者使用抗精神病药物。禁闭期间，残数患者需要增加抗精神病药物剂量。结论：该人群因COVID-19导致的禁闭与抗精神病药物使用的显着增加无关。我们希望我们的工作可以帮助澄清与禁闭期间行为症状需要抗精神病药物有关的问题。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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