Psychotropic Medication Use in Children and Adolescents: A Study from France

Abstract

In Europe, little information exists on the pediatric use of psychotropic medication. This study aimed to describe the extent and patterns of psychotropic medication use in children and adolescents enrolled in a large health plan (MGEN) in France, and its evolution in recent years. MGEN affiliates aged 0 to 17 years were randomly selected at the end of three consecutive years, 2003 (n = 6534), 2004 (n = 6625), and 2005 (n = 6704). Reimbursement claims were organized into three 1-year cross-sectional data sets. Results are detailed for the year 2003 only. In 2003, psychotropic medication, principally anxiolytics and hypnotics, concerned 3.3% of children and adolescents, of whom 35.0% used only herbal drugs. General practitioners were found to be behind most of these prescriptions (63.5%) and, worryingly, 15.1% were drugs restricted to adult use. Nevertheless, most psychotropic medication users (71.0%) had only one prescription. In general, psychotropic medication users received a relatively good medical follow-up. Similar results were found for the years 2004 and 2005. No increasing trend in prevalence was found. However, a subject for concern is the proportion of psychotropic drugs with no market authorization for pediatric use that were prescribed to young patients.