[Trends in antipsychotics use by Belgian children and adolescents between 2005 and 2014]

Antipsychotics are frequently prescribed for a wide range of psychiatric and non-psychiatric indications. Over the last few years there has been a marked increase in the use of antipsychotics, in European and non-European countries. The use has also increased in children.
AIM: To assess trends in the sales of antipsychotics for Belgian children and adolescents (7 to 17 years old) between 2005 and 2014.
METHOD: We used data supplied by Farmanet, the official Belgian organisation responsible for collecting information about the prescription behaviour of doctors in Belgium.
RESULTS: Between 2005 and 2014 there was a 53% increase in the number of prescriptions for antipsychotics issued by doctors in Belgium. This period also saw a 75.5% increase in the number of prescriptions for antipsychotics issued for the treatment of children and adolescents. There was a particularly large increase in the number of prescriptions for aripiprazole, the increase being only very slightly compensated by a simultaneous decrease in the number of prescriptions issued for other antipsychotics. In 2014, 21 different antipsychotics were prescribed for children, the majority of these prescriptions being for risperidone and aripiprazole. A large proportion of antipsychotics are used off-label. In exceptional cases, antipsychotics were prescribed for children under the age of six, and even for children younger than two.
CONCLUSION: Between 2005 and 2014 there was an increase in the number of prescriptions for antipsychotics issued for children and adolescents in Belgium. During that period of time there was a similar increase in the use of antipsychotics by children and adolescents in other European and non-European countries. It is not clear whether these increases are justified.