Use of psychotropic medications for children and adolescents

Abstract EN

Objectives: Use of psychotropic medications for children and adolescents has increased despite The availability of only limited studies on safety and efficacy.

The aim of the study is to shed light on some issues regarding prescribing Psychotropics for children and adolescents.

Methods: A retrospective study of the case records of all patients younger than 18 years of age who had attended a child psychiatric clinic at King Khalid University Hospital over a period of 10 years.

Results: About two thirds of patients received one or more psychotropic medications.

Antipsychotics were the most prescribed group of medications, followed by tricyclic antidepressant, stimulants and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

However methylphenidate was the most prescribed drug followed by imipramine and then haloperidol.

Mood stabilizers and anxiolytics were used less frequently.

Conclusion: In this study psychotropic prescription for children and adolescents tends to be Much more than expected compared to other studies.