Ein- und Durchschlafstörungen bei Heimbewohnern, eingeschätzt durch Pflegende, und die Verordnungspraxis von Psychopharmaka.

Background: This study aimed at evaluating the use of hypnotics and other psychotropics for sleep disturbances in nursing home residents. Patients and methods: Data obtained from the Resident Assessment Instrument (2.0) were linked to health insurance medication claims data. This secondary analysis was based on data of 2109 residents captured in 37 nursing homes in 2008. Results: According to nurses' rating, 9.8 % of residents had difficulties in initiating or maintaining sleep on a daily or almost daily basis (6-7 days/week), a further 23.5 % on 1-5 days/week. In all, 16.7 % of the residents were treated with hypnotics (of which 3.9 % with benzodiazepines and 3.4 % with Z-drugs), and 47.4 % of the residents received antipsychotics. Prescribing of hypnotics (p < 0.001), antipsychotics (p < 0.001), and anxiolytics (p < 0.001) was significantly associated with sleep disturbances in residents, but not of antidepressants (p = 0.903). Conclusion: Although sleep disturbances were very common among the observed residents, traditional hypnotics were used only moderately. However, high prescription rates of antipsychotics must be evaluated critically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]