Psychotropic Medication Use in Children and Adolescents with Mental Retardation (MR)

Seyhan Temtek

doi:10.11648/j.ajpn.20150306.13

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the medication use in children and adolescents with mental retardation (MR) retrospectively in a cross-sectional study. Method: Between June and December 2013, records of the children and adolescents admitted by our policlinic were retrospectively evaluated and those who had MR diagnosis were analyzed. Results: Male sex was found as statistically related to the presence of psychiatric comorbidity and the pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). At least one medical diagnosis accompanying with MR was found in 49.7% (n=781) of all patients. 79.6% (n=1252) of all patients did not use any medication, 16.7% (n=262) of all sample were using one medication agent, 3.5% (n=55) of patients were using combined pharmacotherapy. The predictors of psychotropic medication were the following: the presence of comorbid any of psychiatric disorders, having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), having conduct disorders (CD) and having anxiety disorders. Conclusions and Recommendations: This study has a descriptive nature of the children with MR admitted to the child psychiatry department. It was noticed that psychotropic agent use is preferable if there is a comorbid situation in mental retardation. There is a need for further studies with prospectively planned, multi-central with larger sampling in our country to draw up a way of health policies related to the children with MR.

Highlights

The description of mental retardation (MR) defined by American Association on Mental Retardation in 2002 is ‘the disability which is characterized by severe limitedness in mental functionality, consequent behaviors and cognitive, social and adaptive skills’
The present study aims to examine the demographic characteristics, the admission complaints, the level of MR, comorbid disorders accompanying with, the prevalence of psychotropic medication use, the medications used and the predictors of psychotropic medication in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years and diagnosed with mental retardation by Child Psychiatry of Ankara Pediatric Hematology Oncology Training and Research Hospital
No any significant difference was detected between the children and adolescents in gender terms

Summary

Introduction

The description of mental retardation (MR) defined by American Association on Mental Retardation in 2002 is ‘the disability which is characterized by severe limitedness in mental functionality, consequent behaviors and cognitive, social and adaptive skills’. This disability begins before the age of 18, and shows itself with issues arising from the functioning of the individual [1]. The aim of this study was to assess the medication use in children and adolescents with mental retardation (MR) retrospectively in a cross-sectional study. Method: Between June and December 2013, records of the children and adolescents admitted by our policlinic were retrospectively evaluated and those who had MR diagnosis were analyzed. There is a need for further studies with prospectively planned, multi-central with larger sampling in our country to draw up a way of health policies related to the children with MR

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion