Psychotropic medication use in pediatric patients with cancer.
BACKGROUND
Use of psychotropic medication in medically ill adults, in particular, patients with cancer, is common. While increased use of psychotropic medications in children and adolescents in the general population has been reported, little is known about the prescribing practices for these medications in medically ill children.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the frequency and types of psychotropic medications used in a population of children and adolescents with cancer.


METHODS
Retrospective review of the National Institutes of Health Medical Information System.


METHODS
Pediatric Oncology Branch of the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health.


METHODS
Three hundred forty-seven patients aged 1 to 21 years who were enrolled in clinical research trials at the Pediatric Oncology Branch between January 2000 and December 2003.


METHODS
Psychotropic medication use was analyzed according to cancer diagnosis and patient age.


RESULTS
Fourteen percent of identified patients had been prescribed at least 1 psychotropic medication at the time of National Cancer Institute clinical trial enrollment. The most commonly used medications were anticonvulsant agents (8%) and antidepressant medications (7%), in particular, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Anxiolytic medications could not be accurately assessed because of their frequent use as antiemetic agents in many chemotherapy regimens. Psychostimulant use was rare.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that psychotropic medications are commonly prescribed to children and adolescents with cancer. Clinical safety and efficacy trials are needed in medically ill children at high risk for mood and anxiety symptoms.
Pao
Maryland
M
Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute of Mental Health, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. 20892, USA.
Ballard
Elizabeth D
ED
Rosenstein
Donald L
DL
Wiener
Lori
L
Wayne
Alan S
AS
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs