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The role of parent characteristics in community-based medication treatment for children with disruptive behavior

Ann F Garland1, Lauren Brookman-Frazee, Emily Gray

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, USA. agarland@ucsd.edu

Community Mental Health Journal
|July 7, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Parent characteristics, like education and strain, significantly influence whether children with disruptive behavior problems receive psychoactive medication. This impacts access to community-based care.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Behavioral Pediatrics
  • Health Services Research

Background:

  • Increased rates of psychoactive medication use in children are documented.
  • Limited understanding exists regarding predictors of medication treatment in community-based pediatric care.
  • Child and family characteristics are crucial factors in accessing treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of parent characteristics in predicting medication treatment for children with disruptive behavior problems.
  • To examine how parent education, perceived strain, and psychopathology influence treatment decisions.
  • To identify key predictors of psychoactive medication use in community-based settings.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 213 children (ages 4-13) with disruptive behavior problems was studied.
  • Parent-reported medication treatment and potential predictors were assessed at intake.
  • Predictors included child characteristics (diagnosis, age, race/ethnicity) and parent characteristics (education, strain, psychopathology).

Main Results:

  • Over 60% of children received psychoactive medication, primarily stimulants.
  • Parent education level and reported strain were significant predictors of medication treatment.
  • These parent characteristics remained significant even after controlling for child-specific factors.

Conclusions:

  • Parent characteristics play a critical role in accessing community-based medication treatment for children.
  • Understanding parental factors is essential for equitable access to pediatric mental health services.
  • Further research should explore interventions targeting parental barriers to care.

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