Psychoactive drug prescribing by Dutch child and adolescent psychiatrists

Abstract

Aim: To gain more insight into the prescribing of psychoactive drugs by Dutch child psychiatrists. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all child psychiatrists in the Netherlands. Questions were asked about the prescribing of antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics and psychostimulants for psychiatric disorders in children. Results: The preference of specific antidepressants, antipsychotics and anxiolytics depends on the disorder. For different disorders, off-label prescribing varies from 19 to 71%. Conclusion:Preferences differ widely. Off-label drug prescribing is high. More studies on the efficacy and safety of psychoactive drugs in children are therefore required.

Antidepressant use and off‐label prescribing in children and adolescents in Dutch general practice (2001–2005)

“…16 Off-label prescribing of psychotropic drugs is also high among child psychiatrists in the Netherlands and varied from 19% for antipsychotics to 71% for antidepressants. 17 Precise data about the indications for which GPs prescribe antidepressants to children and adolescents are not yet available, but children and adolescents may receive antidepressants for clinically accepted off-label indications mentioned in national guidelines. For these indications there is evidence of a good clinical trial or of efficacy, but they are not approved by the marketing authorization.…”

Self-reported physician prescribing behavior and factors related to antidepressant prescribing to children and adolescents with major depressive disorder

“…The majority of the scientific literature which examines prescribing patterns of medication to children and adolescents encompass all psychotropic medications (Elfron, 2003;Goodwin, Gould, Blanco, & Olfson, 2001;Haapasalo-Pesu, Erkolahti, Saarijarvi, & Aalberg, 2004;Harpaz-Rotem & Rosenheck, 2006;Hugtenburg, Heerdink, & Tso, 2005;Hong & Shepherd, 1996;Jensen et al, 1999;Kaplan & Busner, 1997;Lekhwani, Nair, Nikhinson, & Ambrosini, 2004;Najjar et al, 2004;Olfson, Gameroff, Marcus, & Waslick, 2003;Rushton & Whitmire, 2001;Safer, 1997;Zito et al, 2000;Zito et al, 2003), all mental illness diagnoses (Elfron, 2003;Goodwin et al, 2001;Haapasalo-Pesu et al, 2004;Harpaz-Rotem & Rosenheck, 2006;Hugtenburg et al, 2005;Hong & Shepherd, 1996;Jensen et al, 1999;Kaplan & Busner, 1997;Lekhwani et al, 2004;Najjar et al, 2004;Rushton & Whitmire, 2001;Safer, 1997;Zito et al, 2000;Zito et al, 2003), and examine prescribing trends over time (Goodwin et al, 2001;Haapasalo-Pesu et al, 2004;Hong & Shepherd, 1996;Lekhwani et al, 2004;Najjar et al, 2004;Olfson et al, 2003;Rushton & Whitmire, 2001;Safer, 1997;Zito et al, 2000;…”

“…These studies have limited generalizability because of geographic limitations (Elfron, 2003;Haapasalo-Pesu et al, 2004;Hugtenburg et al, 2005;Kaplan & Busner, 1997;Lekhwani et al, 2004;Najjar et al, 2004;Rushton & Whitmire, 2001;Safer, 1997). For example, the Rushton & Whitmire (2001) study was limited to the state of North Carolina.…”

“…For example, the Rushton & Whitmire (2001) study was limited to the state of North Carolina. Several other studies are not generalizable to the U. S. because they examine prescribing trends in European countries or Australia (Elfron, 2003;Haapasalo-Pesu et al, 2004;Hugtenburg et al, 2005;Kaplan & Busner, 1997).…”

“…Additionally, there was a significant increase in the use of antidepressants from 35.6% to 77.3% during the same time frame (Najjar et al, 2004). Hugtenburg, Heerdink, & Tso (2005) conducted a survey of child psychiatrists in the Netherlands to gain more information about the prescribing patterns of psychoactive medications. This survey gathered information regarding the preferred medication treatment for various disorders (Hugtenburg et al, 2005).…”