Medication Use in US Youth With Mental Disorders

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence, demographic and clinical correlates, and specificity of classes of psychotropic medications indicated for mental disorders.Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Outpatient Visits and Medication Prescribing for US Children With Mental Health Conditions

“…One study using a regional Medicaid sample suggested children receiving care from PCPs are more likely to be on medications for their ADHD, 17 whereas a national study of adolescents concluded that those seeing psychiatrists are more likely to be prescribed these medications. 16 The current study adds a perspective on this question by using a national sample of all ages of pediatric patients but provides no information on clinicians' rationale for medication prescribing. The finding of substantial prescribing by PCPs supports the role of child psychiatry telephone-based access programs, 34,35 along with electronic medical record tools that help guide clinicians' decision-making.…”

“…14,15 The literature has also explored prescribing patterns of PCPs and psychiatrists, with conflicting results among the studies on which provider type is more likely to prescribe psychotropic medications. 14,16,17 Despite attention to this area of research, no studies have yet used a nationally representative sample to characterize the population of children seen or prescribed medications by PCPs versus other types of mental health providers. Previous national studies have analyzed pediatric mental health use at the level of visits (and not children), 14 have focused on solely 1 condition, 15 or have used only a subset of children and youth (eg, youth in foster care) in their sample.…”

Children in the US are at High Risk for Psychiatric Disorders: Early Monitoring by Parents May Enhance Awareness and Treatment

“…Yet in the Weissman study [2] a minority of those with any diagnosis were in any kind of treatment. In an epidemiological study, children with a bipolar disorder diagnosis were treated with any medications 18% of the time, and of those treated only 44% received a specialty referral [14]. However, 90% of those with a bipolar diagnosis had severe impairment [15].…”

Developing Indicators for the Child and Youth Mental Health System in Ontario

“…Concerns have been raised over the potential overuse of psychotropic medications for youth in Canada and other developed countries. 69 However, without linking medication prescriptions to diagnoses, it is not possible to determine whether psychotropic medications are being overused, are being underused or are within expected rates of use.…”