Psychotropic Drug Use in Preschool and Toddler Age Groups: An Evaluation of Hospital Admissions

Özet

Objective: This study is aimed to evaluate the frequency of psychotropic drug use in children under age 6, and determine the predictive variables of psychotropic drug use. Methods: For six months, data of children aged up to 6 admitted to Ankara Child Health and Diseases Hematology Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Child Psychiatry Department was evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 17 for Windows. A value of p<0.05 was accepted as significant. Results: Total of 953 children under age 6 were recruited. Mean age was 3.5 years and 67.7% were male. 83.4% of all had at least one psychiatric disorder. The most common diagnosis was communication disorders (33.5%). Comorbid psychiatric disorder was found in 5.9% of all and the most comorbid diagnosis was an oppositional defiant disorder (3.3%). Psychotropic drug use was found in 7.3%. The most commonly used drug was risperidone (4%). Predictors of treatment were found as aged in 4-5 (p=0.002); male gender (p=0.049); anxiety (p<0.001); attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (p<0.001), and pervasive developmental disorder (p<0.001). Conclusions: Our results could be useful for preferences of clinicians in treatment of children under age 6, and predictions of scientists working on these age groups in pharmaceutical industry. Multi-centered, large clinic-based studies are needed to constitute a systematic approach for psychopharmacological treatment in these age groups.