Monitoring of prolactin levels in children and adolescents prescribed antipsychotic medication: a complete audit cycle.

Abstract

Basal determinations of serum prolactin improved significantly at the end of the audit cycle (28.6% v. 57%) with slight improvement in six monthly repeat prolactin monitoring (28.6% v. 39.1%) showing some change in clinical practice. However, there was minimal improvement in managing hyperprolactinaemia (0% v. 12.5%). Clinical implication There is growing awareness about hyperprolactinaemia associated with the use of antipsychotic medication in children and adolescents and the long-term effects. Clear documented guidelines will help increase and improve the monitoring and management of hyperprolactinaemia in these groups of patients. However, more needs to be done in improving the practice of monitoring and managing hyperprolactinaemia in children and adolescent prescribed antipsychotic medication giving the documented long-term effects.