Psychoactive drug use in nursing homes

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to know the use of psychoactive drugs including neuroleptics (NL), benzodiazepines (BNZ) and antidepressants (AD) In nursing homes (NH) in the city of Barcelona. METHOD: Cross-sectional descriptive study of 384 clinical records of people living in 19 NH. The correct use of drugs was estimated by Garrad's and Beers at al criteria. RESULTS: Average age (SD) of residents was 83 years (2.0). The average consumption of drugs was 5 (2.7); 248 individuals (64.6%) were taking at least one psychoactive drug: 81 (21%) consumed NL, 179 (46.6%) BNZ and 73 (19%) AD. 48 (12.5%) NH residents consumed long-acting BNZ and 26 (6.7%) had surpassed the recommended time of consumption for short-acting BNZ. In 21 (26%) NH residents who consumed NL, its use would not be justified. CONCLUSIONS. It is necessary to reduce the use of long-acting BNZ, to encourage a correct use of NL and to achieve a correct identification of depressive disorders in NH.