Objective: In Europe, little information exists on the pediatric use of psychotropic medication. This study aimed to describe the extent and patterns of psychotropic medication use in children and adolescents enrolled in a large health plan (MGEN) in France, and its evolution in recent years.
Methods: MGEN affiliates aged 0 to 17 years were randomly selected at the end of three consecutive years, 2003 (n = 6534), 2004 (n = 6625), and 2005 (n = 6704). Reimbursement claims were organized into three 1-year cross-sectional data sets. Results are detailed for the year 2003 only.
Results: In 2003, psychotropic medication, principally anxiolytics and hypnotics, concerned 3.3% of children and adolescents, of whom 35.0% used only herbal drugs. General practitioners were found to be behind most of these prescriptions (63.5%) and, worryingly, 15.1% were drugs restricted to adult use. Nevertheless, most psychotropic medication users (71.0%) had only one prescription. In general, psychotropic medication users received a relatively good medical follow-up. Similar results were found for the years 2004 and 2005.
Conclusion: No increasing trend in prevalence was found. However, a subject for concern is the proportion of psychotropic drugs with no market authorization for pediatric use that were prescribed to young patients.