Majority of young given antipsychotics have not been diagnosed with mental disorder

Mad in America - The majority of children, adolescents and young adults prescribed antipsychotic medications have not been diagnosed with a mental disorder, according to a recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry.  The study, led by Mark Olfson from Columbia University, examined trends in the treatment of young people with antipsychotics in the United States between 2006 and 2010 and raised concerns about the safety and efficacy of prescription practices.

“Most of the younger children (60.0%), older children (56.7%), adolescents (62.0%), and young adults (67.1%) treated with antipsychotics had no outpatient or inpatient claim that included a mental disorder diagnosis,” the study said.

In children and adolescents treated with antipsychotics the most common accompanying diagnoses are ADHD and depression.

Clinical guidelines suggest extreme caution in the use of antipsychotic medications with young children.  Due to the possibility of serious side-effects, antipsychotics are suggested only in the most severe cases and should be paired with psychosocial interventions. Of those prescribed antipsychotic medications, however, only 13.5 % of younger children, 20.4% of older children, 24.8% of adolescents and 18.8% of young adults were found to have a claim for psychotherapy.