More seniors are being prescribed antipsychotic drugs, even though no clinical psychiatric diagnoses have been made. Antipsychotic drugs can be beneficial in treating certain mental disorders, but the researchers found that in 2010 nearly one-third of seniors who were prescribed antipsychotic drugs had no documented mental disorder. Furthermore, half of those who actually did have a mental disorder had dementia, and the FDA warns against the use of antipsychotic drugs in dementia patients due to an increased risk of death.
Weight gain and metabolic problems are known side effects of antipsychotic drugs. But for seniors, the drugs also increase the risk of stroke, fractures, kidney injury, and mortality. Antipsychotic drug use was seen to increase in those over the age of 65, and those in their 80s were prescribed antipsychotic drugs twice as much as those in their early 60s.
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Researchers looked at antipsychotic prescriptions filled between 2006 and 2010. The researchers found that many of the older adults taking antipsychotic drugs did so in excess of 120 days.
Senior advisor of mental health services, Dr. Michael Schoenbaum, said, “In light of these risks, the FDA has issued warnings of increased mortality regarding antipsychotics in elderly patients with dementia, particularly for ‘atypical’ (or 2nd generation) antipsychotics. Nevertheless, around 80 percent of antipsychotic prescriptions among adults 65 and older were for atypical medications.”
He then said, “Typically, psychiatrists are more familiar with the properties of antipsychotic medications. However, about half of the people age 65 to 69 and only one-fifth of those age 80 to 84 who were treated with antipsychotics received any of these prescriptions from psychiatrists.”
The FDA has approved the use of antipsychotic drugs for those with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, but the researchers found that many of the older adults being prescribed such medications did not have either diagnosis.
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Lead author, Mark Olfson, said, “The results of the study suggest a need to focus on new ways to treat the underlying causes of agitation and confusion in the elderly. The public health community needs to give greater attention to targeted environmental and behavioral treatments rather than medications.”
The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.
