Use of Psychotropic Medications for Persons With Mental Retardation Who Live in Oklahoma Nursing Homes

OBJECTIVE: The study examined the use of psychotropic medications to treat persons with mental retardation living in nursing homes in Oklahoma. METHODS: Data were gathered on all 1,056 individuals funded through the Oklahoma mental retardation service system in 1995 to live in nursing homes. The Developmental Disabilities Quality Assurance Questionnaire was used to assess adaptive behavior, living site conditions, health, use of medications, and other variables. RESULTS: The most frequently used class of psychotropic medications was antipsychotic medication, used by 31.8 percent of subjects. Sixteen percent received anxiolytic medication, and 6.1 percent received antidepressant medication. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that use of antipsychotic medication was marginally predictable (less than 15 percent of the variance was explained) with a linear combination of six variables: mental health problems; violence toward others; adaptive behavior; screaming, yelling, or crying behavior; hyperactivity; and age. CONCLUSIONS: A relatively high percentage of subjects received various forms of psychotropic medications, especially antipsychotics. The presence of behavior problems or mental health problems did not sufficiently explain the high rate of use of antipsychotic medication. The risks of this type of medication and its lower rate of use in group homes raise the question of the appropriateness of placing persons with mental retardation in nursing homes as they are currently conceived.