Psychotropic prescribing practices of paediatricians in the UK.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the prescribing practices and attitudes to psychotropic medication by paediatricians in the UK.


METHODS
Questionnaires were sent to 100 randomly chosen paediatricians in the UK to assess their prescribing practices of psychotropic medication in children.


RESULTS
Paediatricians see and treat many children with a wide variety of psychotropic medications on a regular basis. However, few of them feel competent, and most requested regular psychopharmacology seminars.


CONCLUSIONS
In the US, primary care physicians and paediatricians are recognized as primarily responsible for the continuing increase in psychotropic prescriptions in children. This study shows that, in the UK, paediatricians also contribute to such prescribing and need to be taken into account when estimating the prevalence and appropriateness of such medication use in children.
McNicholas
F
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Bloomfield and Newcomen Centres, Guy's Hospital, London, UK. drfionamcn@aol.com
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents