title: Psychotropic medication characteristics for special education students with emotional and/or behavioral disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Characteristics of psychotropic medication use have rarely been investigated for special education students with emotional and/or behavioral disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence of psychotropic medication use was obtained at the beginning of a school year for a cohort of 77 students attending a self-contained middle school for special education students with emotional and/or behavioral problems, in the suburban New York City area. Demographics, intelligence quotient (IQ) and achievement testing, and objective measures of both psychopathology and school functioning were gathered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, psychotropic medication was used in 77.9% of the participants; 52.0% received more than one medication. The most commonly prescribed medicines were atypical antipsychotics (49.4%) followed by attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications (48.0%). Usage patterns for specific diagnostic presentations were examined, and appeared consistent with current clinical practice. Persistent elevated psychopathology appeared frequently in students on medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychotropic medication use in this unique but important sample of special education students appeared generally consistent with recent psychotropic prevalence research. The need for collaboration between special education teachers and prescribing physicians, in order to achieve optimal medication adjustment for these students, was highlighted.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook University , Stony Brook, New York.
authors: Richard E
authors: RE
authors: Mattison
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Rundberg-Rivera
authors: Chenel
authors: C
authors: Michel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004519:Education, Special; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013334:Students
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs