SynthesisBMC geriatrics2024
Psychotropic use for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC geriatrics, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Characterizing treatment initiation with central nervous system-active polypharmacy among adults with dementia.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2026Article
- Trends in psychotropic use among older adults with dementia in Korean long-term care hospitals across the COVID-19 pandemic: a national longitudinal study.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the provision of quality care for behavioral and psychological symptoms in older adults with dementia may have been impeded due to physical distancing and infection control measures. Of particular concern is whether psychotropic medication use has increased despite its limited efficacy and adverse effects. This systematic review described the trajectory of psychotropic use for older adults with dementia across various settings, from community living to healthcare settings during the pandemic. Also, psychotropic use was explored in relation to patients, caregivers, and environment-related factors along with the occurrence of the pandemic.
methodsWe conducted a comprehensive search across five databases: Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library. Methodological quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled risk ratios (RRs) of psychotropic use in older adults with dementia, comparing the pandemic period to the pre-pandemic period. Subgroup analyses based on the class of psychotropics and sensitivity analyses also were conducted. A funnel plot and Egger's regression test were used to detect potential publication bias.
resultsOf the 3,123 screened articles, 15 studies were included in this systematic review, with 10 of them being part of the meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis yielded an RR of 1.16 (95% CI = 1.05-1.26) for overall psychotropic medication use. Further subgroup analysis based on the type of psychotropic medication revealed a significantly greater prevalence in the use of antipsychotics (RR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.08-1.30). However, no significant differences were observed in the use of anxiolytics and/or hypnotics (including benzodiazepines), antidepressants, and mood stabilizers. Among psychotropics, some studies on antipsychotic use additionally explored patients, caregivers, and environmental-related factors during the pandemic.
conclusionsThe review indicates a higher risk of psychotropic use, especially antipsychotics, during the pandemic. Nonetheless, underlying reasons for the increased psychotropic use are not fully available from the reviewed studies. Therefore, further research is needed to identify the factors driving psychotropic use during the pandemic and facilitate the development of quality improvement interventions that can be implemented to minimize inappropriate psychotropic prescribing in future pandemics.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.