The off-label use of antipsychotics for the management of behavioral and psychologic symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in older adults (age ≥65 years) is common, despite evidence of modest benefits and serious risks. Although national initiatives aimed at reducing antipsychotic use among older adults with BPSD in nursing homes have been successful, similar initiatives are lacking for community-dwelling adults with dementia. As a result, older adults with BPSD residing in the community may be at an even greater risk of being negatively affected by antipsychotic use. Physicians should be knowledgeable of this issue and understand the alternatives to antipsychotics, as well as how to reduce antipsychotic use in patients with dementia who are already taking antipsychotics.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.