Psychotropic Medication Use in Children and Adolescents with Mental Retardation (MR)

Abstract

Abstract:Background: The aim of this study was to assess the medication use in children and adolescents with mental retardation (MR) retrospectively in a cross-sectional study. Method: Between June and December 2013, records of the children and adolescents admitted by our policlinic were retrospectively evaluated and those who had MR diagnosis were analyzed. Results: Male sex was found as statistically related to the presence of psychiatric comorbidity and the pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). At least one medical diagnosis accompanying with MR was found in 49.7% (n=781) of all patients. 79.6% (n=1252) of all patients did not use any medication, 16.7% (n=262) of all sample were using one medication agent, 3.5% (n=55) of patients were using combined pharmacotherapy. The predictors of psychotropic medication were the following: the presence of comorbid any of psychiatric disorders, having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), having conduct disorders (CD) and having anxiety disorders. Conclusions and Recommendations: This study has a descriptive nature of the children with MR admitted to the child psychiatry department. It was noticed that psychotropic agent use is preferable if there is a comorbid situation in mental retardation. There is a need for further studies with prospectively planned, multi-central with larger sampling in our country to draw up a way of health policies related to the children with MR.

Appropriateness of psychotropic medication use in a cohort of adolescents with intellectual disability in Queensland, Australia

“…The prevalence in this study is consistent with cross-sectional data reported from adolescent out-patients in Turkey (20.4%). 23 …”