Prescription of psychotropic drugs in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic

The present multicentre cross-sectional study, carried out in geriatric units and psychogeriatric units of seven nursing homes in Gipuzkoa, aims to compare the prescription patterns of psychotropic medication in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic with those of the pre-pandemic period.

To limit the introduction of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in nursing homes, restrictive measures and social distancing were implemented; however, these led to an increase in affective disorders such as depression and anxiety and an alteration of behavioural and psychological symptoms characteristic of dementia. 

Data analysis suggests that, for all categories, psychotropic drug use was higher than anticipated according to the prognosis; this increase could be related to the worsening of emotional and behavioural disorders caused by the restrictive measures of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key aspects of the study:

• A high use of psychotropic drugs is observed in older adults living in nursing homes due to the high prevalence of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
• A relative increase in the prescription of psychotropic drugs in the pandemic period indicates a possible negative effect of emotional and behavioural disorders due to the restrictive measures used to prevent infection.
• Differences in the pattern of psychotropic prescribing in the coronavirus 2019 disease period suggest that the effects of the pandemic are not identical in people living in geriatric units or psychogeriatric units, thus requiring different pharmaceutical intervention protocols.