A study has found that 12% of children prescribed psychotropic medication after attending CAMHS with a mental illness were treated with an antipsychotic medication.
In three-quarters of these cases, it was prescribed for off-label use to target symptoms such as agitation and irritability, while in the remainder it was targeted to treat conditions such as a psychotic disorder.
Researchers examined the records of a sampled cohort of 3,528 children from a national audit of children and adolescents attending mental health services from July to December 2021.
They were prescribed at least one psychotropic medication – such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, antipsychotics or mood stabilisers – and were aged up to 17 years with a moderate to severe mental illness.
READ MORE: Local authority searching for serial dumper dubbed 'adult nappy guy'
The researchers said it must be highlighted that most of the 21,018 children and adolescents who attended CAMHS in late 2021 were not prescribed or didn’t require medication.
“Our study sample reflects a small cohort of children in CAMHS with complex moderate to severe difficulties and who required medication,” said the authors, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist in Cork-Kerry CAMHS, Dr David O’ Driscoll, and senior lecturer in clinical pharmacy practice at UCC, Dr Suzanne McCarthy.
“This is the first study in children and adolescents that describes the target conditions and target symptoms for antipsychotic use in Ireland.”
They said the results allow a better understanding of antipsychotic prescribing in a vulnerable complex population.
They added: “We interpret our findings cautiously, as off-label prescribing of antipsychotic medication does not mean poor prescribing or wrong prescribing.”
The data came from a national audit commissioned in 2021 to monitor prescribing standards, medications, and their indications in all 74 community child and adolescent mental health services in Ireland.
Young people with a moderate to severe intellectual disability or a primary diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder were not included in the study.
Published recently in the European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry journal, the study found that 437 children and adolescents, or 12% of the group studied, had been prescribed an antipsychotic – 48% of those (211 patients) were aged between 16 and 17.
Two of the patients, 0.5% of those prescribed antipsychotic medication, were aged between four and seven years, while 32 children, which accounted for 7%, were aged between eight and 10.
Up to 67 children (15%) were aged between 11 and 13, and 125 children (28%) were aged between 14 and 15.
A consultant was involved in prescribing the medication in nearly 98% of cases.
The most common antipsychotics were quetiapine, risperidone, aripiprazole, and olanzapine.
The authors say the data highlights a high amount of off-label prescribing of antipsychotic medications. Off-label refers to a drug being prescribed outside its intended purpose.
They added: “There is a recognition [that] off-label prescribing does not imply improper or illegal use and is often necessary in children and adolescents.”
For the latest breaking news and top stories, visit our homepage.
Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
