Abstract
Introduction: The evidence of psychotropic drug safety and efficacy in the pediatric population is scant and widely debated. Yet, the prescription prevalence and incidence are increasing. A drug utilization study, based on a multiregional prescription database was therefore carried out in a sample of 1,484,770 Italian children and adolescents younger than 18 years during the year 2004. Furthermore, the trend of psychotropic prescription prevalence was evaluated from 1998 to 2004. During 2004, 4,316 children and adolescents received psychotropic drugs (2.91‰ youths). Antidepressants were prescribed to 3,503 youths (2.36‰), antipsychotics to 1,005 (0.68‰), and lithium to 73 (0.05‰). A total of 265 youths received drugs from more than one psychotropic class. The prevalence rate of psychotropic drug prescriptions increased with increasing age, with a statistically significant trend (χt 2 = 2443; pt 2 = 298; pt 2 = 501; p
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 339-347 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | European Journal of Pediatrics |
| Volume | 166 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2007 |
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Keywords
- Adolescent
- Child
- Drug utilization
- Pediatrics
- Psychotropic drugs
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Cite this
Use of psychotropic medications in Italian children and adolescents. / Clavenna, Antonio; Rossi, Elisa; DeRosa, Marisa; Bonati, Maurizio.
In: European Journal of Pediatrics, Vol. 166, No. 4, 04.2007, p. 339-347.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of psychotropic medications in Italian children and adolescents
AU - Clavenna, Antonio
AU - Rossi, Elisa
AU - DeRosa, Marisa
AU - Bonati, Maurizio
PY - 2007/4
Y1 - 2007/4
N2 - Introduction: The evidence of psychotropic drug safety and efficacy in the pediatric population is scant and widely debated. Yet, the prescription prevalence and incidence are increasing. A drug utilization study, based on a multiregional prescription database was therefore carried out in a sample of 1,484,770 Italian children and adolescents younger than 18 years during the year 2004. Furthermore, the trend of psychotropic prescription prevalence was evaluated from 1998 to 2004. During 2004, 4,316 children and adolescents received psychotropic drugs (2.91‰ youths). Antidepressants were prescribed to 3,503 youths (2.36‰), antipsychotics to 1,005 (0.68‰), and lithium to 73 (0.05‰). A total of 265 youths received drugs from more than one psychotropic class. The prevalence rate of psychotropic drug prescriptions increased with increasing age, with a statistically significant trend (χt 2 = 2443; pt 2 = 298; pt 2 = 501; p
AB - Introduction: The evidence of psychotropic drug safety and efficacy in the pediatric population is scant and widely debated. Yet, the prescription prevalence and incidence are increasing. A drug utilization study, based on a multiregional prescription database was therefore carried out in a sample of 1,484,770 Italian children and adolescents younger than 18 years during the year 2004. Furthermore, the trend of psychotropic prescription prevalence was evaluated from 1998 to 2004. During 2004, 4,316 children and adolescents received psychotropic drugs (2.91‰ youths). Antidepressants were prescribed to 3,503 youths (2.36‰), antipsychotics to 1,005 (0.68‰), and lithium to 73 (0.05‰). A total of 265 youths received drugs from more than one psychotropic class. The prevalence rate of psychotropic drug prescriptions increased with increasing age, with a statistically significant trend (χt 2 = 2443; pt 2 = 298; pt 2 = 501; p
KW - Adolescent
KW - Child
KW - Drug utilization
KW - Pediatrics
KW - Psychotropic drugs
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33847120202&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33847120202&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00431-006-0244-7
DO - 10.1007/s00431-006-0244-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 17028883
AN - SCOPUS:33847120202
VL - 166
SP - 339
EP - 347
JO - European Journal of Pediatrics
JF - European Journal of Pediatrics
SN - 0340-6199
IS - 4
ER -