Implementation conditions leading to the scale-up of an innovation involving the optimal use of antipsychotics in long-term care centers: The Optimizing Practices, Use, Care and Services-Antipsychotics (OPUS-AP) program.

Background: Antipsychotics are often used for the first-line management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia despite their limited efficacy and the risk of serious adverse drug events, compounded with disregard for guidelines recommending prioritizing non-pharmacological interventions. Some innovative interventions promote the deprescription of antipsychotics in long term care (LTC) settings.

Objective: The objective of this article is to present the conditions leading to the scale-up of an innovative program on the appropriate use of antipsychotics in LTC centers.