Psychotropic Medication Use in United States Pediatric Emergency Department Visits

Little is known about pediatric psychotropic medication use in the emergency department (ED), despite a rise in mental and behavioral health visits. This study describes psychotropic medication use in a nationally representative sample of pediatric mental and behavioral health ED visits over a 14-year period.

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of pediatric (6-17 years) mental and behavioral health ED visits using the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 2006-2019. We describe administration of psychotropic medications by medication type, diagnosis, and over time. Using multivariable survey-weighted logistic regression, we examine associations between medication administration and sociodemographics.

A psychotropic medication was administered in 11.4% of the estimated 11,792,860 pediatric mental and behavioral health ED visits in our sample. Benzodiazepines were administered most frequently (4.9% of visits). Visits with anxiety disorders had the highest frequency of psychotropic medication use (26.7%). Visits by Black non-Hispanic patients had a 60% decreased odds of medication administration compared to visits for White non-Hispanic patients. Visits with public compared to private insurance had a 3.5 times increased odds of psychotropic polypharmacy. The proportion of visits in which a psychotropic medication was administered did not change statistically over time.

A psychotropic medication was administered in 1 in 10 pediatric mental and behavioral health ED visits. Use differed by sociodemographics but did not change over time. As more youth seek mental and behavioral health care in the ED, we must better understand appropriate medication use to ensure quality and equitable care.