title: Psychotropic medication use among adolescents and young adults with an autism spectrum disorder: parent views about medication use and healthcare services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Psychotropic medications are frequently used to treat mental health and behavioral issues in adolescents and adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although parents of individuals with ASD frequently take on medication management for their child, there is limited literature on parent perspectives of their child's medication use or their views about the healthcare services they receive, particularly in adulthood. The current study examined and compared parents of adolescents and of young adults with ASD regarding their child's psychotropic medication use and their views about healthcare services.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred parents of adolescents and young adults with ASD (ages 12-30 years) completed an online survey about their experience with their child's healthcare services and medication use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents of young adults were less likely to use nonpharmacological services before using a psychotropic medication than were parents of adolescents. Parents of young adults were also less likely to believe that their prescribing healthcare provider had adequate expertise in ASD, and were less satisfied with how their prescriber monitored their child's medication use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings highlight the need to build capacity among healthcare providers supporting individuals with ASD as they transition into adulthood. There is also a need for improved medication monitoring and increased awareness of the different mental health challenges that individuals with ASD encounter as they age.
authors: 1 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Dual Diagnosis Service , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .
authors: Johanna K
authors: JK
authors: Lake
authors: Vanessa
authors: V
authors: Vogan
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Sawyer
authors: Jonathan A
authors: JA
authors: Weiss
authors: Yona
authors: Y
authors: Lunsky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs