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'Chemical cosh' early death risk
The drugs were designed to treat schizophrenia
Patients with dementia are dying early because they are being prescribed sedative drugs inappropriately in nursing homes, warn researchers.
A five-year investigation revealed the antipsychotic drugs were being used as a 'chemical cosh' to control patients, contrary to expert advice.
Patients prescribed these drugs were dying on average six months earlier, the Alzheimer's Research Trust found.
But GPs said the drugs were only used "as a last resort".
'Chemical cosh'
Guidelines say they can be given if the patient is severely agitated or violent.
But lead researcher Professor Clive Ballard says in the majority of cases the prescriptions are inappropriate and do more harm than good - doubling the risk of early death.
Estimates suggest that as many as 40% of nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease - 150,000 people - are prescribed these drugs, known as neuroleptics
