The
government has promised to set targets to reduce
the use of antipsychotic drugs for people with dementia after a
long-awaited review found inappropriate prescriptions were
widespread.
The Department of
Health has also promised to improve access to psychological
therapies for people with dementia to tackle the aggression and
agitation that are leading to prescriptions of antipsychotics.
There are
longstanding concerns that the use of antipsychotics may hide the
onset of dementia and increase the risk of stroke and death.
No new
money
However, no new
money has been promised to implement the measures.
The review,
carried out by Professor Sube Banerjee, the government’s senior
professional advisor on older people’s mental health, found
National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence guidance was
being breached in the prescription of antipsychotics.
Banerjee said:
“Antipsychotics are used too often in dementia; up to two-thirds of
the estimated 180,000 people with dementia receiving these are
prescribed them unnecessarily.”
The DH also
confirmed that it would appoint a national clinical director for
dementia as part of its response to the review.
'Landmark'
review
The Alzheimer’s
Society, which has long campaigned for action to tackle overuse of
antipsychotics, welcomed the “landmark” review.
Chief executive
Neil Hunt said: “The report suggests prescriptions could be reduced
by two thirds in three years; this is vital and the new action plan
cannot afford to fail. Change will only be achieved with commitment
from government, primary care trusts and health professionals and
clear local targets.”
The DH said an
audit would be carried out to establish definitive prescribing
figures, and then targets would be set to cut use.
Probe announced in June 2008
The review was announced in June 2008, alongside the
consultation on the national dementia strategy for England, and was
originally due to be completed last year.
When the
strategy was published, in February 2009, it
said the drugs review was likely to report in spring 2009.
However,
the review remained unpublished over the summer
causing outcry from dementia charities.
Last year, the all-party parliamentary group on
dementia found that up to 105,000 people in care homes were
being inappropriately given antipsychotic drugs, at an
estimated cost of over £60m a year.
In May
2009, the Care Commission and Mental Welfare
Commission in Scotland called for a review into their use
after it found many residents in Scottish care homes were being
left on the drugs without review.
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