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Neuroleptics in dementia

Two consecutive surveys of prescribing practice at the interface of hospital and primary care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Franz Schembri Wismayer  and
Attila Sipos
Franz Schembri Wismayer*
Affiliation:
Fromeside Clinic, Blackberry Hill Hospital, Bristol
Attila Sipos
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, 41 St Michaels Hill, Bristol BS2 8DZ
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

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Aims and method

We surveyed the prescription of neuroleptic drugs in patients with a diagnosis of dementia discharged from a general psychiatric hospital over two consecutive years. The surveys looked at documentation of information around prescribing and communication to primary care teams. Our aim was to help to minimise the potential contribution of hospital practice to unnecessary or continuing unreviewed neuroleptic prescription in the community.

Results

The first survey led to the adoption of new clinical standards in the Department of Old Age Psychiatry. The second survey found improvements in all surveyed parameters.

Clinical implications

Clear communication of information around prescribing and follow-up arrangements could help to reduce inappropriate community prescription of neuroleptics in this vulnerable group of patients.

Type
Original Papers
Information
Psychiatric Bulletin , Volume 23 , Issue 7: The Journal of Trends in Psychiatric Practice , July 1999 , pp. 409 - 412
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

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