BMJ 1996;312:1668 (29 June)

Letters

Behaviour problems are underdocumented

EDITOR,--By applying American guidelines on neuroleptic use within nursing home facilities, Alice McGrath and Graham Jackson have deemed the prescription of these drugs for Glasgow nursing home residents to be potentially inappropriate in most cases.1 Their interpretation of the findings may be incorrect.

No data are provided on the extent of behaviour problems among the patients studied. Previous research in similar settings suggests that a high prevalence of behaviour problems can be anticipated.2 3 Neuroleptic use may seem inappropriate in many cases because the behaviour had already been modified by treatment, but the nature of the study does not permit elucidation of this point.

The American legislation allows for deviation from the guidelines on antipsychotics if the prescriber can present a rationale for their use.4 This requires that the nature and severity of behaviour problems and response to drug treatment are carefully recorded. Although the management of disturbed behaviour is a . . . [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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