Antidepressants for agitation and psychosis in dementia

The Effect of Escitalopram on Mood and Cognition in Depressive Alzheimer’s Disease Subjects

“…Twenty-four subjects (30%) were unable to finish the study, yielding a PP population of 60 subjects (study group: n = 27; placebo group: n = 33). The drop-out rate was somewhat high, but similar to previous studies [22–24].…”

The Effect of Escitalopram on Mood and Cognition in Depressive Alzheimer’s Disease Subjects

“…Twenty-four subjects (30%) were unable to finish the study, yielding a PP population of 60 subjects (study group: n = 27; placebo group: n = 33). The drop-out rate was somewhat high, but similar to previous studies [22–24].…”

A retrospective study of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in patients admitted to a Specialist Dementia Care Unit

“…Use of psychotropic medications was tailored to the underlying dementia diagnosis and titrated to efficacy, with 89% ( n = 54) on at least one psychotropic on admission, and 60% ( n = 75) administered or trialled on at least one new psychotropic. Psychotropics were likely to have been beneficial in reducing depression, agitation, and aggression, consistent with a recent systematic review that found that risperidone and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were significantly more efficacious than placebo in reducing agitation in patients with dementia, 24 and a meta‐analysis that demonstrated risperidone and olanzapine provided significant improvement in aggression in Alzheimer's dementia. 25 Pharmacological management, used in conjunction with first line non‐pharmacological measures, remains an important therapeutic option to alleviate severe BPSD, with clinical practice guidelines recommending the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time.…”

Fall and Fracture Risk in Nursing Home Residents With Moderate-to-Severe Behavioral Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Initiating Antidepressants or Antipsychotics

“…To better understand the comparative safety and efficacy of psychopharmacological treatment, many clinical studies have been undertaken. Recent reviews of clinical trials concluded that antidepressants appear more efficacious and better tolerated than antipsychotics in managing the behavioral symptoms in dementia patients (6,7). Despite the potential clinical benefits, use of these medications has been implicated for increased risk of falls and fractures, with antidepressants potentially having a poorer safety profile, as suggested by our study findings.…”

The Effect of Escitalopram on Mood and Cognition in Depressive Alzheimer’s Disease Subjects

“…Twenty-four subjects (30%) were unable to finish the study, yielding a PP population of 60 subjects (study group: n = 27; placebo group: n = 33). The drop-out rate was somewhat high, but similar to previous studies [22–24].…”

A retrospective study of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in patients admitted to a Specialist Dementia Care Unit

“…Use of psychotropic medications was tailored to the underlying dementia diagnosis and titrated to efficacy, with 89% ( n = 54) on at least one psychotropic on admission, and 60% ( n = 75) administered or trialled on at least one new psychotropic. Psychotropics were likely to have been beneficial in reducing depression, agitation, and aggression, consistent with a recent systematic review that found that risperidone and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were significantly more efficacious than placebo in reducing agitation in patients with dementia, 24 and a meta‐analysis that demonstrated risperidone and olanzapine provided significant improvement in aggression in Alzheimer's dementia. 25 Pharmacological management, used in conjunction with first line non‐pharmacological measures, remains an important therapeutic option to alleviate severe BPSD, with clinical practice guidelines recommending the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time.…”

Fall and Fracture Risk in Nursing Home Residents With Moderate-to-Severe Behavioral Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Initiating Antidepressants or Antipsychotics

“…To better understand the comparative safety and efficacy of psychopharmacological treatment, many clinical studies have been undertaken. Recent reviews of clinical trials concluded that antidepressants appear more efficacious and better tolerated than antipsychotics in managing the behavioral symptoms in dementia patients (6,7). Despite the potential clinical benefits, use of these medications has been implicated for increased risk of falls and fractures, with antidepressants potentially having a poorer safety profile, as suggested by our study findings.…”

The Effect of Escitalopram on Mood and Cognition in Depressive Alzheimer’s Disease Subjects

“…Twenty-four subjects (30%) were unable to finish the study, yielding a PP population of 60 subjects (study group: n = 27; placebo group: n = 33). The drop-out rate was somewhat high, but similar to previous studies [22–24].…”

A retrospective study of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in patients admitted to a Specialist Dementia Care Unit

“…Use of psychotropic medications was tailored to the underlying dementia diagnosis and titrated to efficacy, with 89% ( n = 54) on at least one psychotropic on admission, and 60% ( n = 75) administered or trialled on at least one new psychotropic. Psychotropics were likely to have been beneficial in reducing depression, agitation, and aggression, consistent with a recent systematic review that found that risperidone and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were significantly more efficacious than placebo in reducing agitation in patients with dementia, 24 and a meta‐analysis that demonstrated risperidone and olanzapine provided significant improvement in aggression in Alzheimer's dementia. 25 Pharmacological management, used in conjunction with first line non‐pharmacological measures, remains an important therapeutic option to alleviate severe BPSD, with clinical practice guidelines recommending the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time.…”

Fall and Fracture Risk in Nursing Home Residents With Moderate-to-Severe Behavioral Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Initiating Antidepressants or Antipsychotics

“…To better understand the comparative safety and efficacy of psychopharmacological treatment, many clinical studies have been undertaken. Recent reviews of clinical trials concluded that antidepressants appear more efficacious and better tolerated than antipsychotics in managing the behavioral symptoms in dementia patients (6,7). Despite the potential clinical benefits, use of these medications has been implicated for increased risk of falls and fractures, with antidepressants potentially having a poorer safety profile, as suggested by our study findings.…”