Abstract
This paper aims to determine the prevalence, patterns, and demographic and diagnostic correlates of psychotropic medication
use in a sample of youth in one state’s post-adjudicatory secure facilities. The health records database of the facilities
was the source of linked demographic, diagnostic and pharmacy information for the 1-year period ending June 30, 2008. Age,
gender, race, offense, prior petitions and diagnoses were examined across groups, and concomitant psychotropic pharmacotherapy
patterns were identified. Period prevalence was 10.2% for youth ranging in age from 12 through 22 years who had any psychotropic
drug prescribed during the first 30 days after intake to the facility. Among medicated youths, almost half received concomitant
therapy. Medicated youth were significantly less likely to be Hispanic and more likely to endorse one or more diagnoses. Antidepressants,
antipsychotics and antihistamines were the most commonly dispensed agents. Our findings revealed that the rate of psychotropic
medication use was low, concomitant medication use was common, and ethnic/race differences in psychopharmacologic treatment
were present in this sample of youths in post-adjudicatory secure facilities.
use in a sample of youth in one state’s post-adjudicatory secure facilities. The health records database of the facilities
was the source of linked demographic, diagnostic and pharmacy information for the 1-year period ending June 30, 2008. Age,
gender, race, offense, prior petitions and diagnoses were examined across groups, and concomitant psychotropic pharmacotherapy
patterns were identified. Period prevalence was 10.2% for youth ranging in age from 12 through 22 years who had any psychotropic
drug prescribed during the first 30 days after intake to the facility. Among medicated youths, almost half received concomitant
therapy. Medicated youth were significantly less likely to be Hispanic and more likely to endorse one or more diagnoses. Antidepressants,
antipsychotics and antihistamines were the most commonly dispensed agents. Our findings revealed that the rate of psychotropic
medication use was low, concomitant medication use was common, and ethnic/race differences in psychopharmacologic treatment
were present in this sample of youths in post-adjudicatory secure facilities.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10488-011-0378-4
- Authors
- Camilla L. Lyons, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Gail A. Wasserman, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center for the Promotion of Mental Health in Juvenile Justice, Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Mark Olfson, Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Larkin S. McReynolds, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center for the Promotion of Mental Health in Juvenile Justice, Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Hana Musabegovic, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center for the Promotion of Mental Health in Juvenile Justice, Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Joseph M. Keating, Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Journal Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research
- Online ISSN 1573-3289
- Print ISSN 0894-587X