Antipsychotic medications are being used inappropriately in Australian nursing homes to control behavioural disturbances or anxiety among people with dementia.

“Antipsychotic medications are overused in Australia as a first-line response to managing behavioural and psychological symptoms experienced by people with dementia, particularly in residential aged care,” Glenn Rees, Alzheimer’s Australia CEO, said in response to a report on ABC Lateline last night.

“We know that antipsychotics can have very serious side effects, including risks of death and stroke.

“Experts also estimate that of the 50-100,000 people with dementia in Australia who receive antipsychotic medications, treatment is only clinically warranted in approximately 20% of cases.”

Antipsychotics do have an important role in the treatment of severe behavioural and psychological symptoms for some people with dementia. However, the guidelines state that treatment should be time-limited, and that the medications should only be used after alternative approaches have been tried.

“Non-drug approaches come down to basic principles of good care,” said Mr Rees.

“Often you can address behavioural symptoms by doing simple things. For example, determining whether a person with dementia is crying out because they are in pain, and if so treating the pain; or identifying if a person is resisting care because they are uncomfortable being showered by strangers, and finding ways to work around that.

“These are much better approaches to responding to behavioural symptoms in most cases than sedating people with powerful antipsychotic medications.

“We also know that some residential care facilities have been able to reduce rates of antipsychotics amongst their residents, however we still have a long way to go.

“Last year the National Prescribing Service issued a warning about the use of antipsychotics for people with dementia. This was excellent good first step in raising awareness about this issue, but clearly it is not enough.”

Evidence suggests that rates of antipsychotics in nursing homes in Australia have remained relatively stable at around 25% over the past 20 years.

“We welcome the commitment made by the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler,” Mr Rees said.

”Alzheimer’s Australia supports the concept of an audit into the use of anti-psychotics in dementia patients in aged care. We look forward to working with the Government to address this important issue.”

For more information on Alzheimer’s Australia’s position, please see our statement here.

National Dementia Helpline: 1800 100 500

An interpreter service is available (The National Dementia Helpline is an Australian Government Initiative)  www.fightdementia.org.au

Media enquiries: Alex Nielsen: 0407 232 212 alex [dot] nielsen [at] alzheimers [dot] org [dot] au
Alzheimer's Australia CEO, Glenn Rees available for further comment.

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