Caregiver and care recipient characteristics as predictors of psychotropic medication use in community-dwelling dementia patients.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The current practice of prescribing psychotropic medication for the management of dementia-related behavioral disturbances is under substantial debate. Using Pearlin's stress process model as theoretical underpinning, the aim of this investigation is to identify caregiver and care recipient characteristics as predictors of anxiolytic, antipsychotic, and antidepressant use among community-dwelling dementia patients. We hypothesized that caregiving burden and patient characteristics, particularly behavior disturbances and pain, would be positively associated with psychotropic medication use.

Methods

Data for this exploratory, cross-sectional study were drawn from the baseline assessment of the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health II trial. Only parti

SUBMITTER: Grace EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6684031 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature