[A real-world survey on antipsychotic treatment for BPSD]

Despite US Food and Drug Administration black box warning, antipsychotics are frequently used for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A 24-weeks prospective cohort study of 10,079 Japanese AD patients in. 357 medical sites was done. The mortality rates in the whole exposed group did not differ from those in the non-user control group. However, further analysis disclosed that the exposed group with shorter treatment periods had higher mortality risk. The results confirmed the mortality associated with antipsychotics suggesting that new use of antipsychotics should be avoided. Patients having been maintained on the drugs for long periods may be at less risk.