TY - JOUR
T1 - Concomitant psychotropic medication for youths
AU - Safer, Daniel J.
AU - Zito, Julie Magno
AU - DosReis, Susan
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2003/3
Y1 - 2003/3
N2 - Objective: This study reviewed the clinical research and practice literature relating to the prevalence and patterns of concomitant psychotropic medication given to youths with emotional and behavioral disorders. Method: A MEDLINE search from 1996 through spring 2002, including a review of references from relevant published articles and reports, was undertaken to identify available information on concomitant psychotropic medication for youths. Results: The data supporting concomitant psychotropic medication for youths are almost exclusively based on case reports and small-scale, nonblind assessments. In the mid-1990s, over 20% of outpatient youths treated in community mental health centers and over 40% of youths treated in inpatient psychiatric facilities were given concomitant psychotropic medication. The rate has since increased. Psychiatrists more than primary care physicians prescribe concomitant psychotropic medication, and they show great variability in their prescribing habits. Youths with aggressive behavior, male gender, severe emotional illness, and disabling social maladjustment are most likely to receive concomitant psychotropic medication. Conclusions: Substantive systematic evidence is needed to clarify this increasingly common, inadequately researched child psycnopharmacologic practice.
AB - Objective: This study reviewed the clinical research and practice literature relating to the prevalence and patterns of concomitant psychotropic medication given to youths with emotional and behavioral disorders. Method: A MEDLINE search from 1996 through spring 2002, including a review of references from relevant published articles and reports, was undertaken to identify available information on concomitant psychotropic medication for youths. Results: The data supporting concomitant psychotropic medication for youths are almost exclusively based on case reports and small-scale, nonblind assessments. In the mid-1990s, over 20% of outpatient youths treated in community mental health centers and over 40% of youths treated in inpatient psychiatric facilities were given concomitant psychotropic medication. The rate has since increased. Psychiatrists more than primary care physicians prescribe concomitant psychotropic medication, and they show great variability in their prescribing habits. Youths with aggressive behavior, male gender, severe emotional illness, and disabling social maladjustment are most likely to receive concomitant psychotropic medication. Conclusions: Substantive systematic evidence is needed to clarify this increasingly common, inadequately researched child psycnopharmacologic practice.
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U2 - 10.1176/appi.ajp.160.3.438
DO - 10.1176/appi.ajp.160.3.438
M3 - Review article
C2 - 12611822
AN - SCOPUS:0037365656
SN - 0002-953X
VL - 160
SP - 438
EP - 449
JO - American Journal of Psychiatry
JF - American Journal of Psychiatry
IS - 3
ER -