Second Generation Neuroleptics and Acute Kidney Injury in Older Adults

There is this enormous reluctance among psychiatrists, even those who clearly have begun to see the light, to take a clear, unambiguous stand against harmful interventions. So often, they settle for the old face-saving caveat – “use caution.” But how can one use caution in prescribing a drug for an age group in which it has been shown to lack effectiveness and has a very high incidence of serious adverse effects? Surely the cautious approach would be not to use these drugs at all, especially since it’s virtually impossible to predict which individuals will suffer adverse outcomes, including death.