Prescribing Practices of General Practitioners for Children with Mental Health Problems

Abstract

Method: Fifty-two general practitioners (GPs) were surveyed to establish their prescribing practice and attitudes to the use of psychotropic medication in children and adolescents. Results: Most GPs have no training in child psychiatry and only a quarter felt confident about their knowledge of drug treatment. Three-quarters of GPs wished to consult with a child psychiatrist before prescribing. Conclusions: This survey has highlighted the training needs of GPs in the use of psychotropic medication for children with mental health problems. It also revealed the importance of providing accessible child psychiatry consultation to support GPs in using psychotropics appropriately and effectively.

Medication prescribing practices in a child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic

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