OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect on sleep/wake activity and on behavioral and psychological symptoms of the withdrawal of antipsychotic medications from nursing home (NH) patients with dementia. DESIGN: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. SETTING: NHs in Bergen, Norway. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty patients (mean age 83.5) takinghaloperidol, risperidone, or olanzapinefor nonpsychotic symptoms. INTERVENTION: Study participants were randomly assigned to withdrawal (intervention group) or continued treatment with antipsychotic medications (reference group) for 4 consecutive weeks. MEASUREMENTS: Behavioral rating using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) and actigraphy. RESULTS: After antipsychotic withdrawal, behavioral scores remained stable or improved in 11 of 15 patients, whereas four had worsening scores. Actigraphy revealed decreased sleep efficiency after drug discontinuation and increased 24-hour and night activity in both groups. Actigraphy records of nighttime and daytime activity indicated sleep problems and restlessness, in terms of the NPI-Q. One patient was restarted on antipsychotics. CONCLUSION: Antipsychotic drug withdrawal affected activity and sleep efficiency over the short term. Increases in total activity and impaired sleep quality after drug discontinuation should be monitored, because the long-term effect of these changes is not known. The NPI-Q and actigraphy are feasible tools that disclose relevant changes occurring during antipsychotic withdrawal in NH patients with dementia. Their use in clinical practice should be substantiated by larger studies.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect on sleep/wake activity and on behavioral and psychological symptoms of the withdrawal of antipsychotic medications from nursing home (NH) patients with dementia. DESIGN: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. SETTING: NHs in Bergen, Norway. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty patients (mean age 83.5) taking haloperidol, risperidone, or olanzapine for nonpsychotic symptoms. INTERVENTION: Study participants were randomly assigned to withdrawal (intervention group) or continued treatment with antipsychotic medications (reference group) for 4 consecutive weeks. MEASUREMENTS: Behavioral rating using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) and actigraphy. RESULTS: After antipsychotic withdrawal, behavioral scores remained stable or improved in 11 of 15 patients, whereas four had worsening scores. Actigraphy revealed decreased sleep efficiency after drug discontinuation and increased 24-hour and night activity in both groups. Actigraphy records of nighttime and daytime activity indicated sleep problems and restlessness, in terms of the NPI-Q. One patient was restarted on antipsychotics. CONCLUSION: Antipsychotic drug withdrawal affected activity and sleep efficiency over the short term. Increases in total activity and impaired sleep quality after drug discontinuation should be monitored, because the long-term effect of these changes is not known. The NPI-Q and actigraphy are feasible tools that disclose relevant changes occurring during antipsychotic withdrawal in NHpatients with dementia. Their use in clinical practice should be substantiated by larger studies.
Authors: D P Devanand; Jacobo Mintzer; Susan Schultz; David Sultzer; Danilo de la Pena; Sanjay Gupta; Sylvia Colon; Corbett Schimming; Gregory H Pelton; Howard Andrews; Bruce Levin Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2012-04 Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: Nikhil Dhawan; Avila B Steele; Robert O Morgan; A Lynn Snow; Jessica A Davila; Mark E Kunik Journal: Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry Date: 2008
Authors: D P Devanand; Jacobo Mintzer; Susan K Schultz; Howard F Andrews; David L Sultzer; Danilo de la Pena; Sanjay Gupta; Sylvia Colon; Corbett Schimming; Gregory H Pelton; Bruce Levin Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2012-10-18 Impact factor: 91.245