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The Art of Prescribing
Pharmacological Management of Psychosis in Alzheimer's Disease: Clinical Challenges Associated With Second‐Generation Antipsychotic Medications
Author(s) -
AntaiOtong Deborah
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
perspectives in psychiatric care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.538
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1744-6163
pISSN - 0031-5990
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-6163.2008.00161.x
Subject(s) - psychosis , antipsychotic , psychiatry , medicine , disease , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , population , atypical antipsychotic , environmental health , pathology
QUESTION. There is growing concern about the use of second‐generation or atypical antipsychotic medications in the management of psychosis in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). As a practicing advanced practice psychiatric nurse in a local nursing home, this issue is a frequent clinical challenge. Please discuss the most recent clinical findings concerning the pharmacological management of psychosis in patients with AD, specifically the second‐generation antipsychotic medications and the implications for prescribing psychiatric nurses . DEBORAH ANTAI‐OTONG REPLIES. You are correct about the growing concerns involving the use of second‐generation antipsychotic medication in patients with AD. In fact, although these agents are widely used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders in older adults, many questions linger about the efficacy and safety, further complicating clinical decision‐making. As our society ages, the number of individuals with psychosis increases. The rise in AD in the U.S. population makes this discussion especially timely and relevant to the safe and quality management of psychosis in persons with AD.