A longitudinal study of psychotropic prescriptions in a teaching nursing home

This study clarifies the methodological pitfalls of using cross-sectional data to characterize episodic and continuous patterns of prescribing psychotropic medications in nursing homes. Although more than half of the residents in a teaching nursing home received a psychotropic drug during their 5 years of residence, less than one-quarter were continuously medicated. The authors conclude that although the rates of psychotropic prescriptions are an important entry point for concerns about quality and appropriateness of psychotropic administration to older nursing home residents, longitudinal studies including the prescribing pattern, indications, and efficacy are needed to determine more clinically meaningful indicators of quality care.