When Less is More, but Still Not Enough: Why Focusing on Limiting Antipsychotics in People With Dementia Is the Wrong Policy Imperative

Antipsychotic reductions have been the primary focus of efforts to improve dementia care in nursing homes by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services National Partnership. Although significant antipsychotic reductions have been achieved, this policy focus is myopic in 2 ways; there is no evidence for any increases in use of nonpharmacologic interventions, and there are indications for compensatory increases in the use of other (unmeasured) sedating psychotropics. This increased use of other sedating psychotropics is more concerning than the antipsychotics that they replaced, as there is even less support of efficacy for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and ample proof of harms, including mortality.