Antipsychotics for children decline, but concerns over prescribing remain

In what is believed to be the first population‐level analysis of antipsychotic prescribing in young people from a nationwide pharmacy claims database, a new study has found that antipsychotic use from 2006–2010 declined in children ages 12 and younger but increased in adolescents and young adults. Among the disturbing findings of the analysis are that only a small minority of young people receive their antipsychotic prescriptions from a child and adolescent psychiatrist, and that most youths receiving these drugs do not have a formal psychiatric diagnosis and have not received psychotherapy in addition to medication.
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - Category: Psychiatry Tags: What's New in Research Source Type: research