Multiple psychiatric diagnoses common in privately insured children on atypical antipsychotics.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of atypical antipsychotic use in privately insured children and the diagnoses associated with treatment.


METHODS
Claims were used to conduct a retrospective cohort study of children aged 2 through 18 years in the Midwest, covered by private insurance between 2002 and 2005 (n = 172,766). The 1-year prevalence of children receiving atypical antipsychotics was determined along with associated diagnoses.


RESULTS
The 1-year prevalence of atypical antipsychotics ranged from 7.9 per 1000 in 2002 to 9.0 in 2005. The leading diagnoses were disruptive behavior disorders (67%), mood disorders (65%), and anxiety disorders (43%).The authors found that 75% of children on atypical antipsychotics had more than one psychiatric diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Atypical antipsychotic use is primarily seen in children who have multiple psychiatric diagnoses. Studies are needed to assess the long-term safety and effectiveness in such patients with multiple diagnoses.
Halloran
Donna R
DR
Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63104-1095, USA. dhallor2@slu.edu
Swindle
Jason
J
Takemoto
Steve K
SK
Schnitzler
Mark A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007358:Insurance, Psychiatric / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D017149:Private Sector / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents