This study by Gill and colleagues is definitely noteworthy and brings
to fore the debate on the superiority of the study methods.
However, what is going unnoticed among the various concerns raised by
the concerned health authorities and the deescalation of these concerns by
such studies is the fact that whether the changes and decisions that are
made really in the best interest of the patients with dementia.
The atypical antipsychotics increase the probability of
cerebrovascular events in a minority of patients!! However, it does bring
in significant improvement in the quality of life in the rest; if not all.
The real issue here as in all other decisions is weighing the pros and
cons of the risks.
At one hand, we have the atypicals( with the lone exception of Quetiapine,
now that even Aripiprazole has joined the list) which increase the risk of
CVA and on the other hand we have the typicals which at the first instance
were taken over by the atypicals for their sheer advantages.
We need to exercise judgement at least in a few situations where the
well being of the patients is at stake.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
01 March 2005
DINESH KUMAR KAMALA KANNAN
SHO in Genral adult Psychiatry
St Luke's Hospital, South West Yporkshire Mental Health NHS Trust, Huddersfield, HD4 5RQ
Rapid Response:
IS THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PATIENTS SERVED?
This study by Gill and colleagues is definitely noteworthy and brings
to fore the debate on the superiority of the study methods.
However, what is going unnoticed among the various concerns raised by
the concerned health authorities and the deescalation of these concerns by
such studies is the fact that whether the changes and decisions that are
made really in the best interest of the patients with dementia.
The atypical antipsychotics increase the probability of
cerebrovascular events in a minority of patients!! However, it does bring
in significant improvement in the quality of life in the rest; if not all.
The real issue here as in all other decisions is weighing the pros and
cons of the risks.
At one hand, we have the atypicals( with the lone exception of Quetiapine,
now that even Aripiprazole has joined the list) which increase the risk of
CVA and on the other hand we have the typicals which at the first instance
were taken over by the atypicals for their sheer advantages.
We need to exercise judgement at least in a few situations where the
well being of the patients is at stake.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests