[Use of antipsychotics in children; too much or too long?]

Antipsychotics have an important role in the treatment of children with severe behavioural problems. Use of antipsychotics in the Netherlands increased dramatically up until 2009. In recent years, however, the side-effects of antipsychotics in children have received increasing attention. One in eight children uses antipsychotics for at least 4 years. This long-term use increases the risk of side-effects, but these are often not optimally monitored. There should also be more attention for the timely tapering off of antipsychotics in children.