Trends in psychostimulant and antidepressant use by children in 2 Canadian provinces.
OBJECTIVE
We used population-based administrative prescription medication data to examine regional differences in psychostimulant and antidepressant (AD) use among children from 2 Canadian provinces: British Columbia (BC) and Manitoba (MB).


METHODS
Using 1997 to 2003 prescription data, annual rates of psychostimulant and AD use were determined for children aged 19 years and under in both provinces. Further comparisons of rates were made according to sex, age group, and specific classes of dispensed medications.


RESULTS
During 1997 to 2003, psychostimulant use rose by 44.9% in MB and 13.3% in BC. Among male children, psychostimulant use increased by 40.2% in MB, compared with an increase of only 8.6% in BC. AD utilization was similar between provinces, with increases of 80% and 75% in MB and BC, respectively. In both provinces, AD use was highest among older children.


CONCLUSIONS
Our observations of regional variation in psychotropic medication use potentially reflect provincial differences in drug benefit policies, disease prevalence, and (or) physician diagnosis and treatment.
Mitchell
Brendon
B
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Carleton
Bruce
B
Smith
Anne
A
Prosser
Robert
R
Brownell
Marni
M
Kozyrskyj
Anita
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011600:Psychopharmacology / Q000639:trends*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants