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Psychotropic polypharmacy in children and adolescents: trends, contributory factors, and potential solutions
1Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Purpose Of Review:
Lately, there have been concerns for psychotropic polypharmacy in children and adolescents, despite a lack of research and guidelines on psychotropic polypharmacy. This narrative review examines recent research on psychotropic polypharmacy in children and adolescents, risks, contributory factors, and potential solutions.
Recent Findings:
Psychotropic polypharmacy in children and adolescents has increased, including that involving antipsychotic medications, despite a paucity of clear evidence on benefits of polypharmacy outweighing risks. Risks of psychotropic polypharmacy in youth may be greater than in adults. Contributory factors include limited availability of psychotherapy, psychiatric comorbidities, high severity, parent and physician-related factors, and inadequate awareness. Periodic review of medications, increased patient and clinician education, oversight programs, deprescribing guidelines, further research, and prevention and early intervention may help reduce psychotropic polypharmacy.
Summary:
Psychotropic polypharmacy has increased in children and adolescents, despite limited evidence on safety and efficacy. Reducing psychotropic polypharmacy requires a multipronged approach.
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