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Perspectives of nursing staff regarding antipsychotic medication usage to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in nursing homes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2025

Afifa Taqvi Open the ORCID record for Afifa Taqvi [Opens in a new window] ,
Brian Hallahan  and
James McLoughlin
Afifa Taqvi*
Affiliation:
Galway-Roscommon Mental Health Services, University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland
Brian Hallahan
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
James McLoughlin
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
*
Corresponding author: Afifa Taqvi; Email: afifa.taqvi@hse.ie
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Abstract

Objective:

To examine the knowledge, experience and attitudes of nurses working in nursing homes in relation to the administration of antipsychotic medications to individuals diagnosed with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).

Methods:

Questionnaires comprising 17 questions were distributed to 120 nurses working in nursing homes to evaluate their knowledge of and attitudes to the utilisation of antipsychotic medication for BPSD.

Results:

Of the 70 nurses who completed the study questionnaire, 68 (97.1%) were confident with their knowledge of managing BPSD symptoms in dementia patients; 49 (70.0%) stated that antipsychotic medications were associated with a noticeable improvement in BPSD symptoms (n = 49, 70.0%) and were mostly commenced at an appropriate stage of the patients illness (n = 47, 67.1%). Music therapy was the most commonly noted (58.6% of nurses) utilised alternative therapy, although only 46% nursing staff reported that there were sufficient alternative therapies available. Qualitative themes of note included the importance of communication between nursing staff, health professionals and family members and an ongoing requirement for training nursing staff regarding antipsychotic prescribing and dispensing in BPSD.

Conclusions:

Nurses working in nursing homes demonstrated confidence in their knowledge of treatment strategies in managing BPSD in dementia patients. However, concerns were expressed regarding the limited availability of non-pharmacological interventions.

Keywords

Antipsychotic medicationsBPSDnursing home staffdementia

Information

Type
Original Research
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , First View , pp. 1 - 5
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

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