Antidepressants and falls among elderly people in long-term care

Abstract

All eligible residents of a long-term care facility (488 women and 147 men with a 6-month minimum stay) were prospectively followed for 1 month for the development of falls. Use of psychotropic medications (excluding as needed prescriptions), functional status, and a history of falls were assessed at the start of the study month. Results of analyses using logistic modeling procedures suggest that institutionalized women on antidepressants may have an increased risk of falling, regardless of fall history, functional status, or age. A relationship between antidepressants and falls was not found for men. These results may help target high-risk individuals for future preventive efforts.