Skip to main content
Log in

La prescription des antipsychotiques chez le sujet âgé

Antipsychotic prescription amongst the elderly

  • Article de Synthèse / Review Article
  • Published:
Les cahiers de l'année gérontologique

Résumé

La prise en charge de certains symptômes délirants, psychotiques et comportementaux du sujet âgé recourt fréquemment aux antipsychotiques. Les données de la littérature mettent toutefois en évidence une grande variabilité des pratiques selon les équipes ainsi que de nombreux mésusages dans l’utilisation de cette classe thérapeutique. Leur prescription chez les sujets âgés a été récemment remise en cause, laissant ainsi les praticiens démunis face à une symptomatologie souvent complexe et difficile à prendre en charge. En pratique clinique, le recours aux antipsychotiques paraît incontournable lorsque l’état délirant du sujet âgé revêt des conséquences graves pour lui-même et son entourage: détresse psychologique, handicap fonctionnel, mise en danger. Leur prescription devrait demeurer individualisée et limitée dans le temps, chez les patients où elle se révèle efficace et réévaluée très régulièrement. Afin de guider cette prescription sur des preuves, on ne peut que préconiser des études fondées sur une méthodologie rigoureuse. Dans tous les cas, on devra privilégier l’emploi des molécules les moins anticholinergiques, réduire au minimum la posologie et fractionner les prises dans la journée afin d’améliorer la tolérance.

Abstract

The treatment of certain psychotic, behavioural and delusional symptoms in the elderly frequently involves the prescription of antipsychotics. However, data in the literature reveals considerable variation in practice from team to team as well as significant misuse of this class of drug. Prescribing such drugs to elderly patients has recently been called into question, leaving physicians with little or nothing to treat a range of symptoms that are often complex and difficult to treat. In clinical practice, antipsychotics seem to be the only way to deal with a delusional state in an elderly patient, in cases where it has serious consequences for both patient and carers: psychological distress, functional disability, dangerous situations. They should be prescribed on a case-bycase basis, for a limited period, to patients who respond well to them, with regular reassessment of the situation. Studies based on extremely rigorous methodology are needed to guide the prescription of antipsychotics, and any such prescription should favour the use of the least anticholinergic molecules, in minimal doses, broken down into smaller components spread throughout the day so as to improve patient tolerance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Références

  1. Sciolla A, Jeste DV (1998) Use of antipsychotics in the elderly. Intern J Psychiatry Clin Pract 2:S27–S34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Targum SD, Abbott JL (1999) Psychoses in the elderly: a spectrum of disorders. J Clin Psychiatry 60(Suppl 8): 4–10

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Copeland JR, Dewey ME, Scott A, et al (1998) Schizophrenia and delusional disorder in older age: community prevalence, incidence, comorbidity, and outcome. Schizophr Bull 24(1): 153–161

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Weintraub D, Katz IR (2005) Pharmacologic interventions for psychosis and agitation in neurodegenerative diseases: evidence about efficacy and safety. Psychiatr Clin N Am 28:941–983

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bassiony MM, Lyketsos CG (2003) Delusions and hallucinations in Alzheimer’s disease: review of the brain decade. Psychosomatics 44:388–401

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Aarsland D, Larsen JP, Lim NG, et al (1999) Prevalence and characteristic disturbances in patient with Parkinson’s disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 67:492–496

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Benoit M, Andrieu S, Lechowski L, et al (2008) Apathy and depression in Alzheimer’s disease are associated with functional deficit and psychotropic prescription. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 23(4): 409–414

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Linjakumpu T, Hartikainen S, Klaukka T, et al (2002) Psychotropics among the home-dwelling elderly: increasing trends. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 17:874–883

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Bouman WP, Pinner G (2002) Use of atypical antipsychotics drugs in old age psychiatry. Adv Psychiatr Treat 8:49–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Oborne CA, Hooper R, Li KC, et al (2002) An indicator of appropriate neuroleptic prescribing in nursing homes. Age Ageing 31(6):435–439

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Briesacher BA, Limcangco MR, Simoni-Wastila L, et al (2005) The quality of antipsychotic drug prescribing in nursing homes. Arch Intern Med 165(11):1280–1285

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Alanen HM, Finne-Soveri H, Noro A, Leinonen E (2006) Use of antipsychotic medications among elderly residents in long-term institutional care: a three-year follow-up. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 21(3):288–295

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Gobert M, D’hoore W (2005) Prevalence of psychotropic drug use in nursing homes for the aged in Quebec and in the Frenchspeaking area of Switzerland. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 20(8): 712–721

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Alanen HM, Finne-Soveri H, Noro A, Leinonen E (2006) Use of antipsychotics among non-Agenarian residents in long-term institutional care in Finland. Age Ageing 35:508–513

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Fick DM, Cooper JW, Wade WE, et al (2003) Updating the Beers criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. Arch Intern Med 163:2716–2724

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Fialová D, Topinková E, Gambassi G, et al (2005) Potentially inappropriate medication use among elderly home care patients in Europe. Jama 293(11):1348–1358

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Curran S, Turner D, Musa S, Wattis J (2005) Psychotropic drug use in older people with mental illness with particular reference to antipsychotics: a systematic study of tolerability and use in different diagnostic groups. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 20(9):842–847

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Ostling S, Skoog I (2002) Psychotic symptoms and paranoid ideation in a non-demented population-based sample of the very old. Arch Gen Psy 59:53–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Webster J, Grossberg GT (1998) Late-life onset of psychotic symptoms. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 6(3):196–202

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Robert PH, Benoit M (2001) Bases neuroanatomiques des comportements et des émotions. Encycl Med Chir Psychiatrie, Elsevier SAS, Paris, 37-530-A-15: p. 7

    Google Scholar 

  21. Pancrazi MP, Métais P (2003) Caractéristiques cliniques des états délirants du sujet agé. Presse Med 32(16):742–749

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) (2003) Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Educational Pack, Association IP, editor

  23. Benoit M, Arbus C, Blanchard F, et al (2006) Professional consensus on the treatment of agitation, aggressive behavior, oppositional behavior and psychotic disturbances in dementia. J Nutr Health Aging 10(5):410–415

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Benoit M, Brocker P, Clement JP, et al (2005) Les symptômes psychologiques et comportementaux de la démence: description et prise en charge. Rev Neurol (Paris) 161(3):357–366

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Alexopoulos GS, Streim J, Carpenter D, Docherty JP (2004) Expert consensus panel for using antipsychotic drugs in older patients using antipsychotic agents in older patients. J Clin Psychiatry 65(Suppl 2):1–105

    Google Scholar 

  26. Mega MS, Cummings JL, Fiorello T, et al (1996) The spectrum of behavioural changes in Alzheimer’s disease. Neurology 46:130–135

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. McShane R, Keene J, Gedling K, et al (1997) Do neuroleptic drugs hasten cognitive decline in dementia? Prospective study with necropsy follow-up. Br Med J 314:266–270

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Scarmeas N, Brandt J, Albert M, et al (2005) Delusions and hallucinations are associated with worse outcome in Alzheimer disease. Arch Neurol 62(10):1601–1608

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Patterson MB, Bolger JP (1994) Assessment of behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 8(Suppl 3):4–20

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Fava M (1997) Psychopharmacologic treatment of pathologic aggression. Psychiatr Clin North Am 20(2):427–451

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Miczek KA, Fish EW, De Bold JF, et al (2002) Social and neural determinants of aggressive behavior: pharmacotherapeutic targets at serotonin, dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid systems. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 163(3–4):434–458

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Goedhard LE, Stolker JJ, Heerdink ER, et al (2006) Pharmacotherapy for the treatment of aggressive behavior in general adult psychiatry: a systematic review. J Clin Psychiatry 67(7): 1013–1024

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Lee PE, Gill SS, Freedmann M, et al (2004) Atypical antipsychotic drugs in the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: systematic review. Br Med J 329:75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Schneider LS, Pollock VE, Lyness SA (1990) A meta-analysis of controlled trials of neuroleptic treatment in dementia. J Am Geriatr Soc 38:553–563

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Ballard C, Bannister C, Graham C, et al (1995) Associations of psychotic symptoms in dementia sufferers. Br J Psychiatry 167: 537–540

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Katz IR, Jeste DV, Mintzer JE, et al (1999) Comparison of risperidone and placebo for psychological and behavioral disturbances associated with dementia: a randomised double blind trial. J Clin Psychiatry 60:107–115

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. De Deyn PP, Rabheru K, Rasmussen A, et al (1999) A randomised trial of risperidone, placebo and haloperidol for behavioral symptoms of dementia. Neurology 53:946–955

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Bhana N, Spencer CM (2000) Risperidone, a review of its use in the management of the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Drugs Aging 16:451–471

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Sink KM, Holden KF, Yaffe K (2005) Pharmacological treatment on neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia: a review of the evidence. JAMA 293(5):596–608

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Street JS, Clark WS, Gannon KS, et al (2000) Olanzapine treatment of psychotic and behavioral symptoms in patients with Alzheimer disease in nursing care facilities. Arch Gen Psychiatry 57:968–976

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Meehan KM, Wang H, David SR, et al (2002) Comparison of rapidly acting intramuscular olanzapine, lorazepam and placebo: a double blind, randomized study in acutely agitated patients with dementia. Neuropsychopharmacology 26: 494–504

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Bronskill SE, Anderson GM, Sykora K, et al (2004) Neuroleptic drug therapy in older adults newly admitted to nursing homes: incidence, dose and specialist contact. J Am Geriatr Soc 52(5): 749–755

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Compendium of pharmaceuticals and specialities (2003) Canadian Pharmacists Association, Ottawa, 1505

  44. British Medical Association, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (2004) British National Formulary. BMA, RPS, London, 179–183 (no 47)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Devanand DP, Sackeim HA, Mayeux R (1988) Psychosis, behavioral disturbance, and the use of neuroleptics in dementia. Compr Psychiatry 29:387–401

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Mann AH, Jenkins R, Cross PS, Gurland BJ (1984) A comparison of the prescriptions received by the elderly in long-term care in New York and London. Psychol Med 14:891–897

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Gilleard CJ, Morgan K, Wade BE (1983) Patterns of neuroleptic use among the institutionalised elderly. Acta Psychiatr Scand 68:419–423

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Elon R, Pawison LG (1992) The impact of OBRA on medical practice within nursing home facilities. J Am Geriatr Soc 40:958–963

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Schneider L, Tariot PN, Dagerman KS, et al (2006) Effectiveness of atypical antipsychotic drugs in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. N Engl J Med 355:1525–1538

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. The French Clozapine Parkinson Study Group (1999) Clozapine in drug induced psychosis in Parkinson’s disease. Lancet 353:2041–2042

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Pollak P, Tison F, Rascol O, et al (2004) Clozapine in drug induced psychosis in Parkinson’s disease: a randomised placebo controlled study with open follow-up. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 75:689–695

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Miyasaki JM, Shannon K, Voon V, et al (2006) Practice parameter: evaluation and treatment of depression, psychosis and dementia in Parkinson’s disease (an evidence-based review). Report of the quality standards subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology 66:996–1002

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Goetz CG, Fan W, Leurgans S (2007) Treating mild hallucinations with neuroleptics: positive impact on long-term progression. AAN: S33.002

  54. Tarsy D, Baldessarinni RJ, Tarazi FI (2002) Effects of newer antipsychotics on extrapyramidal function. CNS Drugs 16:23–45

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. McKeith I, Fairbairn A, Perry R, et al (1992) Neuroleptic sensitivity in patient with senile dementia of Lewy body type. BMJ 305:673–678

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Jeste DV, Caligiuri MP, Paulsen JS, et al (1995) Risk of tardive dyskinesia in older patients: a prospective longitudinal study of 266 outpatients. Arch Gen Psychiatry 52:756–765

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Jeste DV, Okamoto A, Napolitano RN, et al (2000) Low incidence of persistent tardive dyskinesia in elderly patients with dementia treated with risperidone. Am J Psychiatry 157:1150–1155

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Schneider LS, Dagerman KS, Insel P (2005) Risk of death with atypical antipsychotic drug treatment for dementia. JAMA 294: 1934–1943

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Hermann N, Lanctot K (2005) Do atypical antipsychotics cause stroke? CNS Drugs 19:91–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Wang PS, Schneeweiss S, Avorn J, et al (2005) Risk of death in elderly users of conventional versus atypical antipsychotic medications. N Engl J Med 353: 2035–2041

    Google Scholar 

  61. Hermann N, Mabdani M, Lanctot KL (2004) Atypical antipsychotics and risk of cerebrovascular accidents. Am J Psychiatry 161:1113–1115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Liperoti R, Gambassi G, Lapane KL, et al (2005) Cerebrovascular events among elderly nursing home patients treated with conventional or atypical antipsychotics. J Clin Psychiatry 66:1090–1096

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Alexopoulos GS, Streim J, Carpenter D, et al (2004) Using antipsychotic agents in older patients. J Clin Psychiatry 65(Suppl 2): 1–105

    Google Scholar 

  64. Lejeune A, Polydor JP, Vion-Dury J (2007) Résilience, maladie d’Alzheimer et thérapeutique. (Sous la direction de Lejeune A et Cyrulnik B) Solal éditeur

  65. Lambert RA, Revol L (1960) Classification psychopharmacologique et clinique des différents neuroleptiques. Presse Med 68: 1509–1511

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. HAS (Haute Autorité de santé) (1999) Fiche de transparence sur les neuroleptiques

  67. Tune LA (2001) Anticholinergic effects of medication in elderly patients. J Clin Psychiatry 62(Suppl 21):11–14

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Centorrino F, Price BH, Tuttle M, et al (2002) EEG abnormalities during treatment with typical and atypical antipsychotics. Am J Psychiatry 159(1):109–115

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Arnt J, Skarsfeldt T (1998) Do novel antipsychotics have similar pharmacological characteristics? A review of the evidence. Neuropsychopharmacology 18:63–101

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Friedman JH (2006) Atypical antipsychotics in the elderly with Parkinson disease and the “black box” warning. Neurology 67:564–566

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Finkel S, Kozma C, Long S, et al (2005) Risperidone treatment in elderly patients with dementia: relative risk of cerebrovascular events versus other antipsychotics. Int Psychogeriatr 17(4):617–629

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Devanand DP, Brockington CD, Moody BJ, et al (1992) Behavioral syndromes in Alzheimer’s disease. Int Psychogeriatr 4:161–184

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Cohen-Mansfield J, Lipson S, Werner P, et al (1999) Withdrawal of haloperdol, thioridazine and lorazepam in the nursing home: a controlled, double bind study. Arch Intern Med 159:1733–1740

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Avorn J, Soumerai SB, Everitt DE, et al (1992) A randomized trial of a program to reduce the use of psychoactive drugs in nursing homes. N Engl J Med 327:168–173

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Fitz D, Mallya A (1992) Discontinuation of a psychogeriatric program for nursing home residents: psychotropic medication changes and behavioral reactions. J Appl Gerontol 11:50–63

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Horwitz GJ, Tariot PN, Mead K, et al (1995) Discontinuation of antipsychotics in nursing home patients with dementia. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 3:290–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  77. Communiqué de presse (9 mars 2004) de l’Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des produits de santé (Afssaps)

  78. American Psychiatric Association (1997) Practice Guideline for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias of late life. Am J Psychiatry 154(Suppl 5):1–38

    Google Scholar 

  79. Doody RS, Stevens JC, Beck C, et al (2001) Management of dementia. Report of the quality standards subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology 56:1154–1166

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Jeste DV, Rockwell E, Harris MJ, et al (1999) Conventional versus antipsychotics in elderly patients. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 7:70–76

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  81. Jeste DV (2000) Tardive dyskinesia in older patients. J Clin Psychiatry 61(4):27–32

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  82. Schneider LS, Tariot PN, Dagerman KS, et al (2006) Effectiveness of atypical antipsychotic drugs in patient with Alzheimer disease. N Engl J Med 355:1525–1538

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  83. Katz IR (2004) Optimizing atypical antipsychotic treatment strategies in the elderly. J theAmGeriat Soc 52(Suppl 12): S272–S277

    Google Scholar 

  84. Schatzberg A, Nemeroff CB (2009) Textbook of psychopharmacology. American Psychiatric Publishing 60:1041–1041

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Jeandel.

About this article

Cite this article

Benoît, M., Camus, E., Cnockaert, X. et al. La prescription des antipsychotiques chez le sujet âgé. cah. année gerontol. 1, 149–163 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12612-009-0022-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12612-009-0022-z

Mots clés

Keywords

Navigation