Antidepressant and antipsychotic use and adherence among Medicaid youths: differences by race

The purpose of our study is to use Medicaid data to examine the relationship between race and (a) whether youth with schizophrenia or depression diagnoses receive anti-psychotic and antidepressant prescriptions and (b) adherence to anti-psychotics and antidepressants. The analysis is based on claims files from January 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001. To assess adherence, we used the Proportion of Days Covered (PDC) measure. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the data. Black children with schizophrenia were significantly less likely to be adherent to anti-psychotics during a quarter than White children. White children with depression were significantly more likely to receive an antidepressant prescription and they were significantly more adherent during a quarter than Black children. Providers should make sure to investigate both youth and caregiver concerns, fears, and barriers to using these medications and work with the families to develop strategies to improve medication use among youth.