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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

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01-12-2019 | Antidepressant Drugs | Original Paper

Trends in psychiatric disorders prevalence and prescription patterns of children in Alberta, Canada

Authors: Brenda M Y Leung, Peter Kellett, Erik Youngson, Josh Hathaway, Maria Santana

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 12/2019

Abstract

Purpose

To describe the trends in the prevalence and incidence of children with psychiatric disorders, the types of medication prescribed, and the type of physician providing the prescriptions.

Method

This retrospective study linked six population-based administrative databases (2008–2015) in Alberta, Canada.

Results

The prevalence of paediatric psychiatric disorders increased from 12.6 per 100 population in 2008 to 15.0 per 100 population in 2015, while the incidence rate increased from 2.0 per 100 population to 2.2 per 100 population in the same period. The proportion of patients dispensed any psychiatric medication increased from 21.4% in 2008 to 28.2% in 2015. Over the same period, dispensations for antidepressants increased from 7.0% to 11.2% and stimulants to treat ADHD, from 11.9% to 15.9%. For antidepressants, general practitioners (GPs) wrote the highest proportion of prescriptions (44.3% in 2011–48.1% in 2015), while paediatricians wrote the lowest proportion (8.7% in 2011–11.0% in 2015) and the proportion by psychiatrists decreased from 33.4% in 2011 to 27.2% in 2015. For stimulants to treat ADHD, paediatricians were the most frequent prescribers (36.9% in 2011–39.3% in 2015) followed by GPs as the second most frequent (33.1% in 2011–33.5% in 2015), while psychiatrists were the least likely to prescribe stimulants for ADHD.

Conclusion

The increasing trend of psychiatric diagnoses and medication prescriptions in the paediatric population is evident using population-based administrative databases. The lack of safety and adverse consequences of medication use in this cohort warrants additional monitoring data.

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Title: Trends in psychiatric disorders prevalence and prescription patterns of children in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Brenda M Y Leung
Peter Kellett
Erik Youngson
Josh Hathaway
Maria Santana
Publication date: 01-12-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Antidepressant Drugs
Antidepressant Drugs
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 12/2019
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01714-w

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Trends in psychiatric disorders prevalence and prescription patterns of children in Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Purpose

Method

Results

Conclusion

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Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Method

Results

Conclusion

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