Increased Prescribing of Psychotropic Medications to Ontario Nursing Home Residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic (November 2020)

Summary

This population-based study of all Ontario nursing home residents found increased prescribing of psychotropic drugs at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that persisted through September 2020. Increases in prescribing were out of proportion to expected secular trends, and distinct from observed prescribing changes in other drugs during the pandemic. The authors suggest that the findings underscore the urgency of balancing infection prevention and control measures in nursing homes with the mental wellbeing of residents.