<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_sjcapp-2017-009_s_001"><h3>Background</h3><p>The use of second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) medication among child and adolescent psychiatric patients has increased worldwide in recent years. The increase appears to have been more extensive in the USA than in European countries, but the tendency is similar. However, after a peak the use seems to have declined in the USA. Simultaneously with the increasing numbers, the duration of SGA use has lengthened, indications have broadened, and off-label use has increased. Despite existing follow-up recommendations and evidence for the metabolic adverse effects of SGAs in children, research evidence has not translated into clinical practice.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjcapp-2017-009_s_002"><h3>Objective</h3><p>The aim of this study was to assess the clinical use and follow-up practices of SGA medication among child psychiatric patients of one university hospital in Finland.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjcapp-2017-009_s_003"><h3>Method</h3><p>This retrospective patient report-based study was conducted at the Child Psychiatric Clinic of Tampere University Hospital, Finland. The study sample consisted of 133 patients who were younger than 13 years when initiating SGA treatment and had an ongoing SGA medication during the study period. The study sample was divided into two groups according to diagnosis to examine whether there were differences between patients with an autistic or a developmental disorder (F83-84) and patients with other psychiatric diagnoses.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjcapp-2017-009_s_004"><h3>Results:</h3><p>This study showed that SGA use in children younger than 13 years was mainly off-label. Irrespective of diagnosis, the most common indication was aggression. Especially children with psychiatric diagnoses other than developmental disorders had multiple socio-demographic risk factors and adverse life experiences in their background. The follow-up practices were diverse and partly irregular.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjcapp-2017-009_s_005"><h3>Conclusions:</h3><p>A need for systematic SGA monitoring practices and dialogue between the medical specialities treating children and their families is evident.</p></sec></abstract>

BackgroundThe use of second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) medication among child and adolescent psychiatric patients has increased worldwide in recent years. The increase appears to have been more extensive in the USA than in European countries, but the tendency is similar. However, after a peak the use seems to have declined in the USA. Simultaneously with the increasing numbers, the duration of SGA use has lengthened, indications have broadened, and off-label use has increased. Despite existing follow-up recommendations and evidence for the metabolic adverse effects of SGAs in children, research evidence has not translated into clinical practice.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the clinical use and follow-up practices of SGA medication among child psychiatric patients of one university hospital in Finland.MethodThis retrospective patient report-based study was conducted at the Child Psychiatric Clinic of Tampere University Hospital, Finland. The study sample consisted of 133 patients who were younger than 13 years when initiating SGA treatment and had an ongoing SGA medication during the study period. The study sample was divided into two groups according to diagnosis to examine whether there were differences between patients with an autistic or a developmental disorder (F83-84) and patients with other psychiatric diagnoses.Results:This study showed that SGA use in children younger than 13 years was mainly off-label. Irrespective of diagnosis, the most common indication was aggression. Especially children with psychiatric diagnoses other than developmental disorders had multiple socio-demographic risk factors and adverse life experiences in their background. The follow-up practices were diverse and partly irregular.Conclusions:A need for systematic SGA monitoring practices and dialogue between the medical specialities treating children and their families is evident.

Clinical use of second-generation antipsychotics in children

Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Clinical use of second-generation antipsychotics in children"}

BackgroundThe use of second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) medication among child and adolescent psychiatric patients has increased worldwide in recent years....

Clinical use of second-generation antipsychotics in children

Article Category: research-article

Published Online: Nov 20, 2017

Page range: 77 - 88

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/sjcapp-2017-009

Keywords
antipsychotic medication, second-generation antipsychotic, children, follow-up practices, adverse life events

© 2017 Kirsi Kakko et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Clinical use of second-generation antipsychotics in children

Article Category: research-article

Published Online: Nov 20, 2017

Page range: 77 - 88

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/sjcapp-2017-009

Keywordsantipsychotic medication, second-generation antipsychotic, children, follow-up practices, adverse life events

© 2017 Kirsi Kakko et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
antipsychotic medication, second-generation antipsychotic, children, follow-up practices, adverse life events