Effectiveness of Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract
This chapter provides a summary of the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness—Alzheimer’s disease (CATIE-AD), a multicenter trial that investigated whether atypical antipsychotics are an effective treatment for psychosis, aggression, or agitation in outpatients with Alzheimer’s disease. The chapter briefly reviews the study design, as well as implications and limitations. A relevant clinical case concludes the chapter. In summary, atypical antipsychotic use for up to 36 weeks did not lead to clinical improvement based on time to discontinuation, or symptom reduction. Risk of discontinuation due to adverse events and side-effects with worse with antipsychotic treatment compared to placebo. In patients with psychosis, agitation, or aggression due to Alzheimer’s disease, the efficacy of atypical antipsychotics is questionable and their use comes with considerable risks of side effects and adverse events.

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