SSRI Use and Behavioral Disruption Among Children and Adolescents at Austin State Hospital.
This study examined the effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on children and adolescents' disruptive behavior. Administrative data were obtained for 1 year of child and adolescent admissions at Austin State Hospital. Two measures of disruptive behavior were operationally defined as the use of mechanical restraints and emergency medication. Between-subjects analysis compared patients who did versus those who did not receive SSRIs. Within-subject analysis was conducted only for patients receiving SSRIs to examine their disruptive behavior during medication initiation. No differences were found between patients who did versus those who did not receive SSRIs. No differences were found among patients who received SSRIs during initial versus later phases of drug use. No significant relationship between SSRI use and increased agitation, hostility, or self-harm as manifested by the number of mechanical restraints or emergency medications at any time during hospitalization was found.
Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, Texas 78714, USA.
Emilie A
EA
Becker
M Lynn
ML
Crismon
Alan
A
Shafer
Jabeen
J
Hayat
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006783:Hospitals, State; D006801:Humans; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D013781:Texas
D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors