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Effect of humour therapy on psychotropic medication use in nursing homes
Author(s) -
Leow Jerome BY,
Pont Lisa,
Low LeeFay
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/ajag.12319
Subject(s) - pro re nata , medicine , antipsychotic , nursing homes , benzodiazepine , antidepressant , psychotropic agent , psychotropic drug , psychiatry , nursing , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , drug , anxiety , bevacizumab , ranibizumab , receptor , chemotherapy
Aim The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Play Up humour therapy on antipsychotic, benzodiazepine and antidepressant use in Australian nursing homes. Methods Play Up is a humour therapy program that has been implemented in Australian nursing homes. This study was an uncontrolled retrospective review of psychotropic medication charts of 406 residents in thirty‐three nursing homes before and after 12 weeks of participation in Play Up. Prevalence and mean daily equivalent doses of psychotropic medication use were analysed. Results There were significant reductions from before to after the Play Up program in the prevalence of any psychotropic medication use, antipsychotic use and benzodiazepine use ( P = 0.001, 0.02, 0.007, respectively). Mean daily dose equivalents of pro re nata ( PRN ) antipsychotics and PRN benzodiazepines significantly reduced over time ( P = 0.007; P = 0.001). Conclusions Play Up was associated with an overall decline in the use of psychotropic medications. Further trials are required to confirm and better define this association.