Utilization of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and hypnotics during the COVID-19 pandemic

Translational Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: April 4, 2024

Abstract Since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, there have been concerns over mental health impact COVID-19. This is a review utilization antidepressants, anxiolytics, and hypnotics since pandemic was declared on March 11th 2020. A number reports so far based large prescription databases for administrative use at national or regional level, but mainly in high-income countries. We found studies reporting increased rates during 2020, which has interpreted as hoarding such medications. In following months, most antidepressant did not display clear pattern change compared with prepandemic trends. later phases small increases higher than predicted rates, consistent finding, especially youth. countries, were increasing trends antidepressants also before needs to be considered when estimating whereas anxiolytics hypnotics, patterns prescriptions more varying. Overall, after 2020 we could find any distinct changes pandemic. Most contain information about prevalence indicated psychiatric disorders studied populations. More are needed long-term effects COVID-19, particularly regarding antidepressants. Research relating major depression anxiety would promote better understanding how well reflect population.

Language: Английский

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Psychotropic Medication Prescribing for Children and Adolescents After the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic

JAMA Network Open, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7(4), P. e247965 - e247965

Published: April 23, 2024

Importance Numerous studies have provided evidence for the negative associations of COVID-19 pandemic with mental health, but data on use psychotropic medication in children and adolescents after onset are lacking. Objective To assess rates trends prescribing before over 2 years France. Design, Setting, Participants This cross-sectional study used nationwide interrupted time-series analysis outpatient drug dispensing from IQVIA X-ponent database. All 8 839 143 prescriptions dispensed to (6 11 age) (12 17 between January 2016 May 2022 France were retrieved analyzed. Exposure Onset pandemic. Main outcomes Measures Monthly per 1000 analyzed using a quasi-Poisson regression (March 2020), percentage changes assessed. After onset, rate ratios (RRs) calculated estimated expected monthly prescription rates. Analyses stratified by class (antipsychotic, anxiolytic, hypnotic sedative, antidepressant, psychostimulant) age group (children, adolescents). Results In total, analyzed, 5 884 819 [66.6%] 954 324 [33.4%] children. 2016, was 9.9 adolescents, prepandemic increasing 0.4% month (95% CI, 0.3%-0.4%). March 2020, dropped 11.5% −17.7% −4.9%). During following trend changed significantly, increased 1.3% 1.2%-1.5%), reaching 16.1 2022. exceeded 11% (RR, 1.11 [95% 1.08-1.14]). Increases observed all classes substantial anxiolytics, hypnotics sedatives, antidepressants. Prescription rose above those except psychostimulants 1.12 1.09-1.15] 1.06 1.05-1.07] antipsychotics; RR, 1.30 1.25-1.35] 1.09-1.12] anxiolytics; 2.50 2.23-2.77] 1.40 1.30-1.50] sedatives; 1.38 1.29-1.47] 1.23 1.20-1.25] antidepressants; 0.97 0.95-0.98] 1.02 1.00-1.04] psychostimulants). Changes more pronounced among than Conclusions Relevance These findings suggest that medications significantly persistently onset. Future research should identify underlying determinants improve psychological trajectories young people.

Language: Английский

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Psychotropic drug prescribing before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among people with depressive and anxiety disorders: a multinational network study

The Lancet Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(10), P. 807 - 817

Published: Sept. 3, 2024

Language: Английский

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Research Letter: Cumulative incidence of psychotropic drug prescriptions among children and adolescents in an Australian population cohort

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 3, 2025

Language: Английский

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Medication Prescribing Patterns at a Youth Mental Health Service: A Single Center Retrospective Cross-sectional Study

Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 10, 2025

Objective: Rates of mental illness among young people remain elevated, and the utilization youth health services is expected to increase. Yet, there limited knowledge on real-world medication usage prescribing at these services. Hence, aim this study was explore patterns a headspace center, an Australian service. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional medical records conducted. Demographic data, clinical information, prescribed medications, reasons for use who attended intake assessment Camperdown over 13-month period, February 2021-February 2022, were analyzed. Data collection focused molecule, strength, dose, prescriber designation, indication. analyzed descriptively. Results: Records 608 participants included. The median age 19.9 years old (interquartile range: 16.1-22.4), most identified as female (n = 372, 61.2%). Anxiety 246, 40.5%) low mood 95, 15.6%) common presenting concerns. Almost half 291, 47.9%) reported using medication/s intake, almost one in five 119, 19.6%) medications melatonin (24.0%) quetiapine (12.3%), well antidepressants escitalopram (15.1%), sertraline (11.2%), fluoxetine (7.3%). Conclusions: This provides insights into practices single center. Further investigations are needed impacts off-label people, particularly relation quetiapine, where safety efficacy have not been established.

Language: Английский

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Beyond the Label: Antipsychotic Prescribing Practices at a Paediatric Neurodisability Service in Australia

Child Care Health and Development, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 51(3)

Published: April 21, 2025

ABSTRACT Background The use of antipsychotic medications in children has been increasing Australia and abroad. Children with complex physical neurodevelopmental disability remain understudied the prescribing literature, we do not have a nuanced understanding why to whom are prescribed. Methods We conducted retrospective review records characterise prescription patterns for neurodisability at Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. used Electronic Medical Record identify under 19 years, newly prescribed an medication by Department Neurodevelopment Disability clinicians between 24/09/2018 26/09/2022. identified 167 encounters 147 patients, representing 4% (147/3673) patients seen that period. Main outcome measures were frequency drug, age category sex; indication frequency; proportion off‐label use; level psychotropic polypharmacy. Results In our cohort, 71% had intellectual (104/147), 42% autism spectrum disorder (61/147) cerebral palsy (61/147). Risperidone was most medication, 64% (107/167), followed olanzapine 18% (32/167). Off‐label 62% (66/107) risperidone, 97% (31/32) olanzapine. challenging behaviour 74% (123/167), including aggression 31% (52/167), agitation 20% (33/167) self‐injury 17% (28/167). Nonbehavioural indications included anxiety symptoms 19% (32/167) sleep disorders 14% (24/167). Psychotropic polypharmacy (two or more concurrent medications) present 78% (130/167), sedatives (69%, 115/167) antidepressants (31%, 52/167) common. Conclusions A small medications, frequently risperidone behaviours. Prescription occurred variety clinical scenarios sit outside current field evidence.

Language: Английский

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Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on prescription stimulant use among children and youth: a population-based study

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(8), P. 2669 - 2680

Published: Jan. 5, 2024

COVID-19 associated public health measures and school closures exacerbated symptoms in some children youth with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Less well understood is how the pandemic influenced patterns of prescription stimulant use. We conducted a population-based study dispensing to ≤ 24 years old between January 1, 2013, June 30, 2022. used structural break analyses identify month(s) when changes stimulants occurred. interrupted time series models quantify following compare observed expected Our main outcome was change monthly rate use per 100,000 youth. Following an initial immediate decline 60.1 individuals (95% confidence interval [CI] - 99.0 21.2), increased by 11.8 CI 10.0-13.6), greatest increases trend among females, highest income neighbourhoods, those aged 20 24. Observed rates were 3.9% 1.7-6.2%) 36.9% 34.3-39.5%) higher than predicted females from 2020 onward 7.1% 4.2-10.0%) 50.7% 47.0-54.4%) 20-24 May onward. Additional research needed ascertain appropriateness develop strategies supporting ADHD during future periods long-term stressors.

Language: Английский

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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antidepressant and antipsychotic use among children and adolescents: a population-based study

Frontiers in Pediatrics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: Dec. 11, 2023

Background The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increases in the prevalence of depression, anxiety and behavioural problems among children youth. Less well understood is influence on antidepressant antipsychotic use children. This important, as it possible that antidepressants antipsychotics were used a “stop-gap” measure to treat mental health symptoms when in-person access outpatient care school-based supportive services disrupted. Furthermore, have been harm We examined trends dispensing these medications two years following 18 age under Ontario, Canada. Methods conducted population-based time-series study medication adolescents ≤18 old between September 1, 2014, March 31, 2022. measured monthly population-adjusted rates obtained from IQVIA Geographic Prescription Monitor (GPM) database. structural break analyses identify month(s) changes occurred. interrupted time series models quantify compare observed expected drugs. Results Overall, we found higher-than-expected Specifically, an immediate step decrease April 2020 (−55.8 units per 1,000 individuals; 95% confidence intervals [CI] CI: −117.4 5.8), followed by increased trend rate 13.0 individuals (95% 10.2–15.9). Antidepressant consistently greater than predicted onward. Antipsychotic immediately June (26.4 15.8–36.9) did not change appreciably thereafter. higher at all points Conclusion These sustained through nearly observation are especially concerning light potential for long-term Further research required understand clinical implications findings.

Language: Английский

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Ten-year patterns of psychiatric medications dispensed to adolescent in Finland: Open dialogue-informed practice in Western Lapland as compared to practice in other Finnish regions

Personalized Medicine in Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 43-44, P. 100117 - 100117

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on prescription of psychotropic medications in the Italian paediatric population during 2020

˜The œItalian Journal of Pediatrics/Italian journal of pediatrics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 50(1)

Published: May 20, 2024

Abstract Background There is a global perception that psychotropic utilization in children and adolescents increasing, especially with the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. Available literature data on paediatric medication prescriptions Italy are limited to one or few regions not updated. The aim this study was provide updated referred whole Italian population, as overall by subgroups medications evaluate if pandemic during 2020 had an impact prescription rates. Methods A descriptive drug (< 18 years) resident all performed. Patients registered Pharmaceutical Prescriptions database at least prescription/dispensing (antipsychotics-N05A), (antidepressants-N06A) (psychostimulants-N06BA) period were considered. indicators used rate (number per 1000 children) prevalence use (proportion population relevant year). Results During 0.3%, increased 7.8% compared 2019. same trend observed for rate, which recorded average 28.2 increase 11.6% previous year, representing 0.6% age group. showed growing age, reaching peak aged 12–17 years old, 65 0.71%. Considering medications, highest found antipsychotic drugs, received 0.19% 2020. Conclusions Psychotropic has grown worldwide, raising alarms from health care clinicians patient advocates about burden mental diseases more systematic monitoring should be implemented countries collecting information taking order address present future population.

Language: Английский

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