According to Canadian researchers, in people with Alzeheimer’s disease, an antidepressant and a generally prescribed antipsychotic medication works well in treating their aggressive behavior, without any sever side-effects.

This finding is the first head-to-head comparison of an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressant and an antipsychotic in non-depressed patients. It is published in the online American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

The study results have increased a new direction’s possibility in drug treatment for psychotic disorders associated to the dementia in the elderly.

Antipsychotic is the first line treatment for psychosis related to Alzheimer and more studies needed be done to confirm these findings.

Study’s co-author Dr. Benoit Mulsant, with the Geriatric Mental Health Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), said, “We didn’t expect that an antidepressant would have so-called antipsychotic properties.”

A study, on patients hospitalized with psychiatric disturbances related to dementia, has been conducted by Dr. Mulsant and Dr. Bruce Pollock, also with CAMH and the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest.