Assessment of Drug Therapy in Psychiatric Elderly Patients Based on the Beers Criteria of the American Geriatrics Society.

The study objective was to analyze the frequency of the prescription of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) to elderly patients treated in a psychiatric, inpatient setting. This study was carried out with the Beers criteria, an antipolypharmacy tool developed under the auspices of the American Geriatrics Society. The study indicates a high frequency of use of PIMs from the following pharmacological groups: benzodiazepine derivatives, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (long-term use), and drugs with significant anticholinergic potential. The AGS Beers criteria can help optimize treatment for older psychiatric patients and increase the safety of pharmacotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]