Category Archives: Pharmacological Treatments

Dementia Awareness Week: Thinking Ahead (UKMi)

Summary This edition of Thinking Ahead, from UK Medicines Information  (UKMi), has been written for Dementia Awareness Week May 19th – 25th 2013. Full Text Link (MS Word format). Reference Hall, J. (2013). Thinking Ahead: Worrying changes nothing. Talking changes everything. … Continue reading

Posted in Alzheimer's Society, Antipsychotics, Charitable Bodies, Depression, For Carers (mostly), For Doctors (mostly), For Nurses and Therapists (mostly), Management of Condition, Mental Health, Models of Dementia Care, National, Patient Information, Pharmacological Treatments, Practical Advice, Quick Insights, Standards, UK, Universal Interest | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EU ALCOVE Project: Latest Reports (ALCOVE Official Website / University of Worcester’s Association for Dementia Studies)

[A version of this collection features in Dementia and Elderly Care: the Latest Evidence Newsletter (RWNHST), Volume 3 Issue 7, May 2013]. Summary The European Joint Action on Dementia, ALCOVE, (¨ALzheimer’s COoperative Valuation in Europe¨ is into an “information dissemination” … Continue reading

Posted in Antipsychotics, Department of Health, Diagnosis, For Doctors (mostly), For Researchers (mostly), Integrated Care, International, Management of Condition, Models of Dementia Care, Non-Pharmacological Treatments, Patient Care Pathway, Person-Centred Care, Pharmacological Treatments, Standards, Systematic Reviews, UK | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

PEARL Specialised Dementia Service Confirms Reduced Requirement for Antipsychotic Medication (Four Seasons Health Care)

Summary This report covers the progress of Four Seasons Health Care in halving use of antipsychotic medication for adults with dementia through their specialist PEARL (Positively Enriching And enhancing Residents’ Lives) care programme. Many positive outcomes are reported. Full Text … Continue reading

Posted in Antipsychotics, Community Care, Depression, Falls, Falls Prevention, For Carers (mostly), For Nurses and Therapists (mostly), For Social Workers (mostly), Management of Condition, Models of Dementia Care, National, Non-Pharmacological Treatments, Person-Centred Care, Pharmacological Treatments, Practical Advice, Quick Insights, Standards, UK, Universal Interest | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Medicines Optimisation: Helping Patients for Medication Best Usage (Royal Pharmaceutical Society)

Summary The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has release guidance which helps health and care professionals to assist patients with their medicines to improve outcomes and avoid waste. The “Medicines Optimisation: Helping Patients Make the Most of Medicines” document offers four guiding … Continue reading

Posted in For Carers (mostly), For Nurses and Therapists (mostly), For Social Workers (mostly), Management of Condition, National, Person-Centred Care, Pharmacological Treatments, Practical Advice, Proposed for Next Newsletter, Quick Insights, Standards, UK, Universal Interest | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Resources to Reduce Inappropriate Use of Antipsychotics in Dementia (UKMi / East & South East England Specialist Pharmacy Services)

Summary This document assembles a collection of resources to support primary and secondary care pharmacists in reducing the inappropriate use of antipsychotics for patients showing Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD). The resources are based on the “Medicines Use … Continue reading

Posted in Acute Hospitals, Antipsychotics, Community Care, For Doctors (mostly), For Nurses and Therapists (mostly), For Researchers (mostly), For Social Workers (mostly), Management of Condition, Mental Health, Models of Dementia Care, National, Non-Pharmacological Treatments, Person-Centred Care, Pharmacological Treatments, Practical Advice, Proposed for Next Newsletter, Quick Insights, Standards, UK, Universal Interest | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Systematic Review of Treatments to Prevent Cognitive Decline (CMAJ: Journal of the Canadian Medical Association)

Summary This systematic review examined the best 32 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating treatments for cognitive decline, including drug treatments, hormone therapies, nutritional supplements, physical activity and cognitive exercises. The authors looked comprehensively at pharmacological treatments and non-pharmacological treatments in healthy … Continue reading

Posted in For Carers (mostly), For Doctors (mostly), For Nurses and Therapists (mostly), For Researchers (mostly), In the News, International, NHS Choices, Non-Pharmacological Treatments, Pharmacological Treatments, Proposed for Next Newsletter, Quick Insights, Systematic Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Alternatives to Antipsychotic Medication (British Psychological Society)

Summary The Faculty of the Psychology of Older People (FPOP) has released the “Alternatives to Antipsychotic Medication” report in support of the Dementia Action Alliance’s campaign against the over-prescription of antipsychotic medication for people with dementia. This report shows how evidence-based … Continue reading

Posted in Acute Hospitals, Antipsychotics, Community Care, For Carers (mostly), For Doctors (mostly), For Nurses and Therapists (mostly), For Researchers (mostly), For Social Workers (mostly), Management of Condition, Mental Health, Models of Dementia Care, National, Non-Pharmacological Treatments, Patient Care Pathway, Person-Centred Care, Pharmacological Treatments, Practical Advice, Proposed for Next Newsletter, Quick Insights, Standards, UK, Universal Interest | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sertraline or Mirtazapine Versus a Placebo for Treatment of Depression in Dementia (HTA-SADD Trial)

Summary This randomised control trial took place across nine English old-age psychiatry units. It examined the clinical effectiveness of sertraline and mirtazapine in reducing depression compared with a placebo. 326 patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), depression and a Cornell Scale … Continue reading

Posted in Acute Hospitals, Community Care, Depression, For Doctors (mostly), For Researchers (mostly), Management of Condition, Mental Health, National, NHS, Pharmacological Treatments, Proposed for Next Newsletter, Quick Insights, Systematic Reviews, UK, Universal Interest | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Prescription of Psychotropic Drugs in Care Homes (NHS Choices / Journal of the American Geriatrics Society)

Summary The NHS Choices “Behind the Headlines” service has drawn attention to a further study raising concern over the prescribing of psychotropic medicines for elderly people living in care homes. The study in question examined how psychotropic drugs – i.e. … Continue reading

Posted in Antipsychotics, BBC News, Community Care, For Carers (mostly), For Nurses and Therapists (mostly), For Researchers (mostly), For Social Workers (mostly), In the News, International, Management of Condition, NHS Choices, Pharmacological Treatments, Proposed for Next Newsletter, Quick Insights, Standards, Statistics, Universal Interest | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Inappropriate Long-Term Use of Antipsychotic Drugs for People with Dementia in Specialised Care Units (BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology)

Summary This study investigated use of antipsychotic drug therapy for the treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) among 344 people with dementia living in 40 specialised care units in Sweden. 132 persons (38%) in the study population … Continue reading

Posted in Antipsychotics, For Doctors (mostly), For Nurses and Therapists (mostly), For Researchers (mostly), For Social Workers (mostly), International, Mental Health, Pharmacological Treatments, Quick Insights, Universal Interest | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment