Children's prescriptions for antipsychotic medicines have doubled in the last ... trends now

Children's prescriptions for antipsychotic medicines have doubled in the last ... trends now
Children's prescriptions for antipsychotic medicines have doubled in the last ... trends now

Children's prescriptions for antipsychotic medicines have doubled in the last ... trends now

Children's prescriptions for antipsychotic medicines have doubled in the last 20 years, a study found.

The drugs, which have a tranquillising effect, are typically used in adults to treat major mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia.

NHS watchdog NICE approved the use of some antipsychotics in under 18s with psychosis or with severely aggressive behaviour from a conduct disorder.

But researchers found they are also regularly dished out for an increasingly broad range of reasons - including autism and ADHD - to children as young as three.

A team from the University of Manchester’s Centre for Women’s Mental Health examined primary care records of 7.2 million youngsters, aged 3 to 18, registered at GP surgeries between 2000 to 2019

A team from the University of Manchester's Centre for Women's Mental Health examined primary care records of 7.2 million youngsters, aged 3 to 18, registered at GP surgeries between 2000 to 2019

They described the trend as 'worrying', adding further research is urgently needed into the safety of these medications for children.

A team from the University of Manchester's Centre for Women's Mental Health examined primary care records of 7.2million youngsters, aged 3 to 18, registered at GP surgeries between 2000 to 2019.

The overall percentage prescribed antipsychotics was relatively small – 0.06 per cent in 2000 and 0.11 per cent in 2019 – but rising every year.

Each age group saw rises, with boys and older children, aged 15 to 18, more likely to be prescribed antipsychotics, such as risperidone and aripiprazole, than girls and younger children.

Twice as many boys as girls received antipsychotic prescriptions for almost every year, with boys more likely to be diagnosed with autism, according to the findings published in Lancet Psychiatry.

Children living in deprived areas had a greater chance of being prescribed an older class of antipsychotics which have been linked to side effects such as movement disorders like Parkinson's, they found.

Dr Matthias Pierce, who jointly lead the study, said the findings demonstrate 'a concerning trend in antipsychotic prescribing in children and adolescents'.

He said the increase in prescriptions among children had happened steadily, suggesting it was not linked to changes to prescribing guidelines.

More information is needed on the

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