BMJ 1996;312:1667 (29 June)

Letters

Dangerous to extrapolate local audit findings

EDITOR,--Alice McGrath and Graham Jackson's survey of neuroleptic prescribing to residents of nursing homes in Glasgow1 has been given extensive coverage by the BBC. It was reported that the survey showed an alarmingly high level of neuroleptic prescribing, that 88% of patients received them inappropriately, and that significant numbers of residents were receiving high doses. These headlines were repeated regularly through 8 March on Radios 4 and 5. On reading McGrath and Jackson's brief report we were alarmed at this media interest. The authors seem to be advocating the use of legislation, as in the United States, to impose restrictions on the prescribing of neuroleptics to nursing home residents--an infringement of clinical decision making that surely must be resisted.

While we suspect that there is over prescribing of neuroleptics in nursing homes, we question the reliability of the findings of McGrath and Jackson. The authors make no comment regarding the . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Survey of neuroleptic prescribing in residents of nursing homes in Glasgow
Alice M McGrath and Graham A Jackson
BMJ 1996 312: 611-612. [Extract] [Full Text]

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