Online Program

Oral

Psychotropic use among US children and adolescents who receive care in community outpatient settings has been on the rise for the last 20 years. Recent trends show that utilization begins much younger, involves concomitant multi-drug regimens, produces serious side effects, and is only moderately effective in managing most emotional and behavioral problems. Regional variation and disparities underlying these patterns have risen to the top of the child health agenda. This session aims to provide a comprehensive overview of contemporary controversies regarding for whom and under what circumstances psychotropic medications are prescribed for child and adolescent populations. This will be accomplished by a two-pronged approach. First, empirical data on recent practice patterns in community settings will be presented. These trends will be consider large-area and small-area variation in community-based patterns. Second, the empirical presentations will be followed by a brief discussion from a clinical and a research leader who will situate the findings in the context of recommendations for pediatrics, mental health and population health advocacy. The session will cover several key areas that affect a child’s health and well-being. The medical and policy actions necessary also will be discussed with an emphasis on how to assess and improve the quality of care in this most vulnerable population. At the conclusion of this session, participants will have be able to identify an agenda for advocacy in professional and policy arenas, e.g. within Medicaid and behavioral health quality indicators and research funding for community-based research in large cohorts.

Session Objectives: Identify the key psychotropic drug classes that had the largest growth in use, singly and concomitantly Evaluate regional variation in the growth of pediatric psychotropic use and the correlates associated with variability; Describe the patient-level characteristics that contributes to small area variation in pediatric psychotropic use

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)