Psychotropic medication of mentally retarded residents in community long-term care facilities.

Medicaid billing information was used to examine the administration of psychotropic medication to residents of community long-term care facilities providing mental retardation services. In 1984, 5,766 individuals receiving Medicaid in Illinois resided continuously in these facilities for the entire year. Of these, 1,667 (28.9%) received at least one psychotropic medication during the year, with thioridazine, haloperidol, and chlorpromazine being prescribed most frequently. Data for frequency, dose, and length of administration of individual psychotropic medications were reported for the total group and by level of mental retardation. Separate analyses indicated little or no influence of demographic and facility variables on either the probability of drug administration or amount administered.