Antipsychotic Medication Hastens Death in Dementia Patients, Study Warns

Dementia patients given antipsychotic drugs for management of behavior problems have higher risk of death, a new study found.

The study done by researchers at University of Michigan Medical School found that risk of death in patients taking antipsychotic and mood stabilizers is higher compared to patients not taking such drugs. The study involved 91,000 American veterans over 65 years diagnosed with dementia. Though antidepressants had smaller risk compared to other psychiatric drugs, they still posed a higher risk compared to patients not taking such medication.

"The harms associated with using these drugs in dementia patients are clear, yet clinicians continue to use them. That's likely because the symptoms are so distressing. These results should raise the threshold for prescribing further," the study's lead author Donovan Maust, said.

The study is not the first to describe risk of death associated with psychiatric medication. US FDA has warned that use is associated with higher risk of death from cardiovascular conditions.

Noting that benefits of such drugs are smaller previously thought, the study's co-authors developed an approach called DICE, which stresses first use of non-pharmacological approach to control behavioral symptoms. The success of such alternatives is incumbent on support from policy makers.

"In other words, non-pharmacologic approaches will only succeed if we as a society agree to pay front-line providers for the time needed to 'do the right thing," Kales said.