title: Psychostimulant prescribing trends in a paediatric population in Ireland: a national cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychotropic paediatric prescribing trends are increasing internationally. The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence and secular trends in psychotropic prescribing in Irish children and adolescents between 2002 and 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was obtained from the Irish General Medical Services (GMS) scheme pharmacy claims database from the Health Service Executive Primary Care Reimbursement Services (HSE-PCRS). Prescribing rates per 1000 eligible population and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated across years (2002-2011), age groups (0-4, 5-11, 12-15 years) and gender. Rates of concomitant prescriptions for psycholeptics and antidepressants were also examined. The total expenditure costs were calculated and expressed as a percentage of the cost of all prescriptions for this age group (≤ 15 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2002, 3.77/1000 GMS population (95% CI: 3.53-4.01) received at least one psychostimulant prescription and this rate increased to 8.63/1000 GMS population (95% CI: 8.34-8.92) in 2011. Methylphenidate was the most frequently prescribed psychostimulant. For both males and females the prevalence of medication use was highest among the 12-15 year old group. On average, a psycholeptic medication was prescribed to 8% of all psychostimulant users and an antidepressant was concomitantly prescribed on average to 2%. Total expenditure rose from €89,254 in 2002 to €1,532,016 in 2011.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate and cost of psychostimulant prescribing among GMS children and adolescents in Ireland increased significantly between 2002 and 2011. Further research is necessary to assess the safety, efficacy and economic impact of concomitant psychotropic prescribing in this population.
authors.affiliation: HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, Department of General Practice, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. fionaboland@rcsi.ie.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boland
authors.affiliation: HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, Department of General Practice, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. rose.galvin@ul.ie.|Department of Clinical Therapies, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick. rose.galvin@ul.ie.
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galvin
authors.affiliation: HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, Department of General Practice, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. reulbacu@tcd.ie.|Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Centre for Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. reulbacu@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Reulbach
authors.affiliation: HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, Department of General Practice, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Motterlini
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Centre for Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. dkelly23@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: Dervla
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, St James's Hospital, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. BENNETTK@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, Department of General Practice, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. tomfahey@rcsi.ie.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fahey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016527:Drug Costs; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D008774:Methylphenidate