title: Comparative prevalence of psychotropic medications among youths enrolled in the SCHIP and privately insured youths.
abstract: The one-year prevalence of use of psychotropic medications among youths enrolled in a Mid-Atlantic State Children's Insurance Program (SCHIP) in 1999 or 2000 was compared with the 1998-2000 prevalence findings for youths enrolled in four large multistate private medical insurance programs. Prevalence was significantly higher among youths enrolled in the SCHIP than among those with private insurance in all eight medication group comparisons. Unlike private insurance, the surveyed state SCHIP program did not require a copayment or have a restrictive formulary. These administrative differences may partly explain the comparatively higher rate of psychotropic use under the SCHIP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA. dsafer@hmi.edu
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Safer
authors.forename: Julie Magno
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zito
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services; D007358:Insurance, Psychiatric; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008873:Mid-Atlantic Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017149:Private Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017150:Public Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013221:State Health Plans; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs