Professor Clive Ballard, one of the world's leading experts in dementia, investigated the effects of the anti-psychotic drugs on dementia patients with shocking results.
His study, featured in the BBC Panorama : Please look after Dad, shows that anti-psychotic medication is given to many dementia patients in care homes in the UK costing £80m per year. He said that these drugs have no benefit to dementia patients and can significantly harm them and called for better care for dementia sufferers without relying on these drugs.
An article "Prescription Abuse Seen In U.S. Nursing Homes" in Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported similar trend in the use of anti-psychotic drugs in nursing homes prescribed by doctors on dementia sufferers whether they are psychotic or not. Health regulators and patient advocates are questioning such practice.
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