Cut in anti-psychotic drugs for dementia

But the findings of the first ever audit in the field reveal significant variations of up to six fold remain in patients receiving the drugs, with numbers in Yorkshire significantly above average.

Experts have urged a clampdown on prescribing because of the side-effects of the powerful medication which is generally designed to treat conditions such as schizophrenia although the drugs are considered appropriate for around five per cent of patients showing symptoms of agitation or aggression.

Around 750,000 people have dementia and numbers will increase significantly in coming decades as the population ages.

The analysis of prescribing among GPs at 3,800 practices in England reveals numbers being prescribed the drugs fell from 17 per cent in 2006 to seven per cent in 2011.

In 2006 more than 20 per cent of patients were given the drugs in Yorkshire but by 2011 this had fallen by more than half to fewer than 10 per cent although the region had the second highest rate of prescribing of England’s 10 regions.

Overall the figures show there was a 52 per cent reduction in numbers receiving anti-psychotic drugs between 2008 and 2011.

The fall comes despite an increase in numbers of people newly diagnosed with the condition which rose by 68 per cent from 2006 to 2011.

The figures showed higher rates of diagnosis of dementia in women, who account for two thirds of cases. More than 19 in 20 cases are diagnosed in those aged over 65.

Tim Straughan, chief executive of the Health and Social Care Information Centre which compiled the figures, said: “This audit breaks new ground in examining prescribing patterns for dementia patients and highlights areas that GPs and other practices who want to deliver the best possible care need to focus on.

“It is encouraging that prescribing of antipsychotic drugs is falling. However, it is clear that the picture nationally is mixed and that everyone involved in the care of those with dementia needs to look carefully at how they compare with others in their practices.”