Determinants of Neuroleptic Drug Use in Long-Term Facilities for Elderly Persons

Neuroleptics, also called antipsychotic drugs (e.g., haloperidol, risperidone) are the cornerstone drug therapy for psychiatric disorders. Despite the fact that they are widely used in nursing homes, little is known about their clinical determinants. The goal of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence rate of neuroleptic administration and to identify their determinants among 2,332 elderly residents in nursing homes. Among the residents, 649 (27.8%) had taken at least one neuroleptic drug. According to the logistic regression, the factors associated with neuroleptic drug consumption were younger age, few hours of family visits, severe cognitive impairment, insomnia, physical restraint, and disruptive behavior. In conclusion, neuroleptic drugs are administered to more than a quarter of residents in nursing homes. Alternative solutions to sleep problems and disruptive behaviors of the elderly living in long-term-care facilities should be implemented in order to reduce unnecessary use of neuroleptics.