Longitudinal trends in the use of psychotropic medications in a Spanish pediatric population

Abstract Background : An increase in prescription of psychotropic medications in children and adolescents has been reported in some countries. We report the evolution in a Health Area in Spain in the period 2013-2017. To describe psychopharmacologic prescriptions and the users’ profile in a paediatric population attending a Mental Health Care Service and its evolution between 2013-2017. Methods : An observational, longitudinal study was conducted. All Electronic Medical Records of the paediatric population (0-18 years) attending our Mental Health Area during this period were included. Each year is treated as a specific cohort including all patients attended during that year in order to perform a trend analysis over the 5 years period. Demographic data, psychiatric diagnoses and psychotropic prescription were collected for all patients attended. Results : A total of 4,228 individual patients were included with a mean of 1.011 individual patients in each year cohort. The rate of ADHD patient receiving pharmacological treatment increased up to 85.1% in 2017. The use of antidepressants increased, along with its use in disorders other than depression such as ADHD. Antipsychotics use increases in patients with diagnosis such as depression or eating disorders. The rate of patients receiving more than one type of psychotropics (20%) shows a significant increasing trend during years 2013-2017. Conclusions : In our sample, psychotropic prescriptions is high and shows a significant increasing trend in the period 2013-2017.There is a strong need to improve our scientific knowledge about the effectiveness and long term safety of the use of psychotropics in children and adolescents.