title: Psychopharmacological treatment in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders in Germany.
abstract: Data on psychopharmacological treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are scarce, especially for European countries. This study evaluated psychopharmacotherapy utilisation in children and adolescents with a diagnosis of ASD in Germany. Data of a large statutory health insurance company were analysed and outpatients aged 0-24 years with a diagnosis of ASD during a 1-year-period (2009) were identified. For this cohort, the prescription of psychopharmacotherapy was evaluated. Aditionally, we analysed time trends in prescriptions from 2004 to 2009. One thousand one hundred twenty-four patients (75.4% male; mean age: 11.1 years) matched the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of ASD was 0.37% in males and 0.12% in females, respectively. Of all ASD patients, 33.0% were prescribed psychotropic drugs in 2009. 12.5% of ASD patients were treated with stimulants or atomoxetine, 11.7% with antipsychotics, 9.1% with antiepileptics, 6.8% with benzodiazepines, and 3.8% with antidepressants/SSRI. Regarding substances, methylphenidate (24.4% of all psychotropic prescriptions), risperidone (13.3%) and valproate (9.1%) were most frequently prescribed. Psychopharmacologic treatment prevalence was age-related and increased from 16.3% in individuals aged 0-4 years to 55.1% in 20-24 year olds. From 2004 to 2009, the proportion of ASD patients treated with psychotropic drugs rose from 25.9% to 33.0%. This naturalistic study furnishes evidence that the proportion of ASD patients treated with psychotropic drugs has grown considerably in Germany over the least years, with methylphenidate and risperidone being the most frequently prescribed substances. Compared with data from the USA, the proportion of ASD patients with psychopharmacological treatment is noticeably lower in Germany.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Philipps-University Marburg, Schützenstr. 49, D-35039 Marburg, Germany. christian.bachmann@med.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Christian J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bachmann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Manthey
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kamp-Becker
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Glaeske
authors.forename: Falk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015995:Prevalence; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate; D014635:Valproic Acid; D018967:Risperidone
keywords: Autism; Autism spectrum disorder; Germany; Pharmacoepidemiology; Psychopharmacotherapy