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Psychotropic medications versus non-pharmacologic approaches for managing behavioural and psychological symptoms in Australian aged care residents with dementia: general practitioners’ and physicians’ perspectives
Hunduma Dinsa Ayeno, Mustafa Atee, Gizat Molla Kassie, Vijayaprakash Suppiah, Imaina S. Widagdo, Tuan Anh Nguyen. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 2025-10-28
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Four GPs and eleven physicians were interviewed, and four major themes emerged: (1) knowledge of best practices of BPSD management, (2) awareness of current challenges in BPSD management, (3) non-involvement, blame shifting and rationalisation: perceived reasons for the current challenges and (4) suggested solutions. GPs and physicians were aware of best practices in managing BPSD, highlighting the importance of NPIs as more effective first-line strategies, with psychotropic medications reserved as a last resort. They also admitted that psychotropic over-prescription and inadequate NPI implementation persisted in BPSD management in Australian RACHs. Physician participants often distanced themselves from and blamed the GPs, staff and relatives of residents with dementia for the current problems. Systemic barriers, including insufficient resources, limited care continuity and organisational structures, were also reported to hinder psychotropic deprescribing. Implementing NPIs was deemed to be impeded by inadequate training and low confidence in their effectiveness. The participants suggested strengthening workforce capacity, incentivising NPIs and encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration. The results highlighted the gap between GPs' and physicians' knowledge of best practices and actual prescribing practices for BPSD in Australian RACHs. Improved workforce and support for NPIs could reduce reliance on psychotropics and align BPSD management with best practices.
Key findings
- Four GPs and eleven physicians were interviewed, and four major themes emerged: (1) knowledge of best practices of BPSD management, (2) awareness of current challenges in BPSD management, (3) non-involvement, blame shifting and rationalisation: perceived reasons for the current challenges and (4) suggested solutions.
- GPs and physicians were aware of best practices in managing BPSD, highlighting the importance of NPIs as more effective first-line strategies, with psychotropic medications reserved as a last resort.
- They also admitted that psychotropic over-prescription and inadequate NPI implementation persisted in BPSD management in Australian RACHs.
- Physician participants often distanced themselves from and blamed the GPs, staff and relatives of residents with dementia for the current problems.
- Systemic barriers, including insufficient resources, limited care continuity and organisational structures, were also reported to hinder psychotropic deprescribing.
Why it matters
This interview study found that general practitioners and physicians knew that non-pharmacologic approaches should be first-line for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, yet psychotropic over-prescription and inadequate implementation of these approaches persisted. It describes a gap between knowledge and practice and does not test any treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 36/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology: journal h-index 61 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Tuan Anh Nguyen: h-index 26 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | The University of Sydney: institution h-index 1,466 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 8 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41179336) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 36 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1177/20451253251387908
- PubMed: 41179336
- Original source →
- Free full text: Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Ayeno, H. D., Atee, M., Kassie, G. M., Suppiah, V., Widagdo, I. S., & Nguyen, T. A. (2025). Psychotropic medications versus non-pharmacologic approaches for managing behavioural and psychological symptoms in Australian aged care residents with dementia: general practitioners’ and physicians’ perspectives. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1177/20451253251387908
Vancouver
Ayeno HD, Atee M, Kassie GM, Suppiah V, Widagdo IS, Nguyen TA. Psychotropic medications versus non-pharmacologic approaches for managing behavioural and psychological symptoms in Australian aged care residents with dementia: general practitioners’ and physicians’ perspectives. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. 2025. doi:10.1177/20451253251387908. PMID: 41179336.
BibTeX
@article{ayeno2025-41179336,
author = {Ayeno, Hunduma Dinsa and Atee, Mustafa and Kassie, Gizat Molla and Suppiah, Vijayaprakash and Widagdo, Imaina S. and Nguyen, Tuan Anh},
title = {{Psychotropic medications versus non-pharmacologic approaches for managing behavioural and psychological symptoms in Australian aged care residents with dementia: general practitioners’ and physicians’ perspectives}},
journal = {Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1177/20451253251387908},
pmid = {41179336},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/20451253251387908}
}
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