[Prescribing neuroleptics to senile dementia patients. On outcome in old age homes after inpatient psychiatric treatment].

Psychopharmacological treatment of all demented patients (n = 49), discharged to nursing homes after gerontopsychiatric hospital treatment in 1992 and 1993, was analyzed. In spite of the higher risk of secondary effects in elderly, demented people are after prescriptions for psychopharmacologic medications, especially neuroleptics. It was shown that the residents in nursing homes receive significantly more neuroleptics than patients who are discharged (P = 0.0001). Prescriptions for benzodiazepines were two times higher, whereas clomethiazole was rarely given. In nursing homes these substances were prescribed as continuous treatment. Most prescriptions resulted from agitation, sleep disturbances or aggressive behavior. Astonishingly, the patients without positive effects from treatment, who worsened regarding behavioral complications of dementia, obtained the highest doses of neuroleptics.