Sedation and Selection: Restricting Antipsychotics in
Nursing Homes
Name
caputi-tcaputi-sm-econ-2026-thesis.pdf
Size
1.13 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
e632b4cd7930c57bd762a0029c37aa47
Author(s)
Caputi, Theodore L.
Advisor(s)
Gruber, Jonathan
Date Issued
May 2026
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Antipsychotics have been a major source of policy debate in nursing home care since the 1980s. On one hand, antipsychotics are generally considered medically inappropriate for elderly populations as they increase the risk of cerebrovascular mortality. On the other hand, antipsychotics make caring for elderly patients easier. Use in nursing homes is common; 30–40% of long-stay nursing home patients receive antipsychotics. In this project, I study the effects of a federal policy intended to reduce antipsychotic prescribing in nursing homes on patient health and nursing home strategy. Antipsychotic prescribing in nursing homes decrease, but this reduction appears to be driven by change in patient mix.
JEL Codes: I1 (Health)
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Economics
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