National trends in the use of psychotropic medications by children.
OBJECTIVE
Little information exists on national trends in the use of psychotropic medication by children and adolescents. The objective of this report is to compare patterns and predictors of psychotropic medication use by children and adolescents in the United States in 1987 and 1996.


METHODS
An analysis of medication use data is presented from two nationally representative surveys of the general population focusing on children 18 years of age and younger who used one or more prescribed psychotropic medication during the survey years. Rates of stimulant, antidepressant, and other psychotropic medication use are reported.


RESULTS
The overall annual rate of psychotropic medication use by children increased from 1.4 per 100 persons in 1987 to 3.9 in 1996 (p < .0001). Significant increases were found in the rate of stimulant use (0.6 per 100 persons to 2.4 per 100 persons), antidepressant use (0.3 per 100 persons to 1.0 per 100 persons), other psychotropic medications (0.6 per 100 persons to 1.2 per 100 persons), and coprescription of different classes of psychotropic medications (0.03 per 100 persons to 0.23 per 100 persons), especially antidepressants and stimulants. Rates of antipsychotic and benzodiazepine use remained stable. In 1996, stimulant use was especially common in children aged 6 to 14 years (4.1 per 100), and antidepressant use was common in children aged 15 to 18 years (2.1 per 100 persons).


CONCLUSIONS
Between 1987 and 1996, there was a marked expansion in use of psychotropic medications by children, especially stimulants and antidepressants.
Olfson
Mark
M
Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA.
Marcus
Steven C
SC
Weissman
Myrna M
MM
Jensen
Peter S
PS
D000293:Adolescent; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000639:trends; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs