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Psychotropic prescribing practices of paediatricians in the UK

F McNicholas1

  • 1Bloomfield and Newcomen Centres, Guy's Hospital, London, UK. drfionamcn@aol.com

Child: Care, Health and Development
|December 12, 2001
PubMed

Insights

UK paediatricians frequently prescribe psychotropic medications for children but lack confidence. Most desire further training in psychopharmacology to improve pediatric care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Healthcare Professional Education

Background:

  • Psychotropic medication use in children is increasing globally.
  • Paediatricians play a significant role in prescribing these medications.
  • Understanding UK paediatricians' prescribing habits is crucial for child mental health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prescribing patterns of psychotropic drugs by UK paediatricians.
  • To assess paediatricians' self-perceived competence in psychotropic medication management.
  • To identify needs for professional development in pediatric psychopharmacology.

Main Methods:

  • A questionnaire-based survey was distributed to 100 randomly selected UK paediatricians.
  • The survey assessed current prescribing practices for psychotropic medications in pediatric patients.
  • Attitudes towards medication management and training needs were also evaluated.

Main Results:

  • Paediatricians regularly manage a diverse range of pediatric conditions with psychotropic medications.
  • A significant majority of surveyed paediatricians reported feeling inadequately competent in this area.
  • Most participants expressed a strong demand for continuous psychopharmacology education and seminars.

Conclusions:

  • UK paediatricians are key contributors to the rising trend of psychotropic prescriptions in children.
  • Their prescribing practices necessitate consideration in prevalence and appropriateness assessments.
  • Targeted psychopharmacology training is essential to enhance paediatricians' confidence and competence.
Abstract

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