title: Pharmacoepidemiology of psychotropic drugs: examples of current research challenges on major public health issues.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As a large number of persons are exposed to prescribed psychotropic drugs, their utilisation and impact should be further explored at the population level.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To illustrate the interest of pharmacoepidemiological studies of psychotropic drugs by selected examples of major public health issues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selective review of the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Many questions remain unsolved regarding the behavioural teratogenicity of prenatal exposure to psychotropic drugs, the impact of their increasing use in children, the long-term cognitive consequences of exposure to benzodiazepines, and the risks associated with extension of indications of antipsychotic drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacoepidemiological studies need to be further developed owing to the large number of public health questions raised by the extensive and expanding use of psychotropic drugs.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U657, University Victor Segalen Bordeaux2, Bordeaux, France. helene.verdoux@bordeaux2.fr
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Verdoux
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tournier
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bégaud
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D006801:Humans; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011634:Public Health
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs