Use of neuroleptics: study of institutionalized elderly people in Montreal, Que.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of neuroleptic use in long-term care institutions in the greater Montreal, Que, area and to estimate the extent of use of atypical neuroleptics.

DESIGN Cross-sectional study in which single-day chart reviews were conducted to evaluate the prevalence of use of conventional and atypical neuroleptics.

SETTING Ten long-term care institutions in the greater Montreal area.

PARTICIPANTS Two thousand, four hundred sixty residents aged 65 years or older living in 10 long-term care institutions in and around Montreal.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Single-day medication profiles compiled by institutions' pharmacists.

RESULTS Among patients in the 10 participating institutions, use of neuroleptics ranged from 15% to 37% with a mean of 25.2% (620/2460). Atypical neuroleptics were prescribed to 15.6%, conventional neuroleptics to 7.6%, and a combination of both to 2.0% of the 2460 patients.

CONCLUSION Use of neuroleptics was relatively prevalent, and there was wide use of atypical neuroleptics in Montreal-area long-term care institutions. There is little information on the safety and efficacy of these medications for institutionalized elderly people.