July 29, 2024

expert reaction to editorial on use of psychotropic medication in young people

Scientists comment on an editorial about the use of of psychotropic medication in young people.

Dr Carmen Moreno, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain and Chair of the ECNP Child and Adolescent Neuropsychopharmacology Network, said:

“The increase in prescribing of psychotropic medications for children and adolescents mentioned in the editorial by Branford and colleagues does not necessarily reflect overprescribing or imply safety problems. It is consistent with the recent increase in the evidence base for effective and safe prescribing of psychotropic treatments for psychiatric disorders in this age group, for which regulatory requirements are quite stringent. In fact, despite this increase, prescription rates for children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders are mostly below the prevalence rates of the disorders, even for disorders for which medication is the mainstay of treatment, such as ADHD. In addition, this increase may also reflect an increase in the help-seeking behaviours and the perceived mental health needs of children and their carers.

“Whatever the reasons for the increase in the prescription of psychotropic medications, it is essential to ensure that medications are prescribed under the best safety conditions and to facilitate access to well-designed psychopharmacological training in child and adolescent psychopharmacology for professionals at different levels of care.”

The editorial ‘Challenging use of psychotropic medication in young people’ by David Branford et al. was published in Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin at 23:30 UK time on Monday 29^th July.

DOI: 10.1136/dtb.2024.000022

Declared interests

Dr Carmen Moreno: Carmen Moreno has been a consultant to or has received honoraria from (has received honoraria as a consultant and/or advisor and/or for lectures) Angelini, British Association of Psychopharmacology (BAP), Compass, Esteve, Exeltis, Janssen, Lundbeck, Neuraxpharm, Nuvelution, Otsuka, Pfizer, Servier and Sunovion.