Structured Interventions to Optimize Polypharmacy in Psychiatric Treatment and Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review

"Polypharmacy," the simultaneous use of multiple medications, has been linked to an increased risk of treatment complications. An article in the March-April 2022 issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology takes a systematic look at research studies that have tested interventions to optimize polypharmacy in psychiatric treatment and nursing homes. Improvement of drug-related outcomes can be achieved by interventions such as individualized medication review and educational approaches. Changes in clinical outcomes, however, are often not substantial. Drs. Philip Stötzner and Eva Brandl, two of the authors of the systematic review, discuss their findings and avenues for future research.