Objectives: Antipsychotic-induced parkinsonism (AIP) is one of the most common adverse effects of haloperidol. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between AIP and quality of life of elderly patients treated with haloperidol.
Design: Cross-sectional study design.
Setting: Eleven nursing homes, geriatric departments of 2 hospitals, and 3 mental health care centers in the Netherlands.
Participants: Participants were 140 elderly patients aged 65 years and older treated for at least 5 days with haloperidol.
Measurements: The presence of AIP was determined with the Simpson Angus Scale. Quality of life was scored with the QUALIDEM scale. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to assess whether the presence of AIP and quality of life were correlated. The data of patients with advanced dementia were analyzed separately.
Results: Of the 140 included patients, 65 (46%) were diagnosed with AIP. Patients with AIP scored lower than patients without AIP on the QUALIDEM subscales "positive affect," "negative affect," "social relations," "social isolation," and "having something to do." In patients with advanced dementia, quality of life was not significantly different in patients with or without AIP.
Conclusion: The presence of AIP is negatively associated with the quality of life of elderly patients treated with haloperidol.
Copyright © 2012 American Medical Directors Association, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.