Trends in psychotropic drug use in a child psychiatric hospital from 1991-1998

This study was undertaken to analyze inpatient prescribing patterns of psychotropic drugs in a child psychiatric hospital from 1991-1998.

Hospital pharmacy dispensing data were reviewed. Total admissions, first admissions, and readmissions were identified, and medication status of all patients at admission and at discharge was ascertained. Patterns of total psychotropic drug use and proportionate use of each drug class (antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics stimulants, and alpha-2 antagonists) were evaluated.

Controlling for the 2.3-fold rise in hospital admissions, there was a 73.0% increase in the use of psychotropic drugs from 1991-1998. The greatest relative increase was in the use of alpha-2 antagonists (from 3.3% to 23.6%). Significant increases were also observed for antidepressants (from 35.6% to 77.3%), mood stabilizers (from 14.9% to 32.6%), and stimulants (from 10.5% to 20.6%). Antipsychotic use showed no net change, although use of atypical agents largely supplanted that of conventional drugs.

These findings document a marked and continuing increase in psychotropic drug use in child psychiatric inpatients during the 1990s. This trend occurred against a background of increased hospital admissions and shorter lengths of stay. Most of the increased use is accounted for by newer agents, even though data supporting their efficacy and safety in this population are limited.