A Dangerous Remedy (2 Letters)

Re “A Call for Caution on Antipsychotic Drugs,” (Mind, Sept. 25): “A call for caution” is indeed needed and long overdue to curb the inappropriate overuse of antipsychotics. As the author notes, the use of these highly potent and expensive drugs is drastically out of proportion to the appropriate target population: individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

The misuse of antipsychotics in nursing homes in particular is a widespread yet preventable problem. Approximately one in four residents are given antipsychotics. The percentage of residents with dementia on these drugs is even...

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Published By: New York Times - Mental Health - 6 days ago