Pediatric psychopharmacoepidemiology in Germany

作者：Koelch Michael; Plener Paul L; Ludolph Andrea G; Fegert Joerg M

来源：Psychopharmakotherapie, 2010, 17(3): 112-+.

• Prescribing patterns
• psychotropic medication
• children and adolescents
• Germany

The spectrum of psychopharmacotherapeutic interventions increased over the last decades in children and adolescents, however a high proportion of prescriptions are off-label. Based on a literature review the trends of prescribing patterns of the three most frequently used psychotropic medication in children and adolescents in Germany (stimulants, antipsychotics and antidepressants) are reported. Stimulants are administered most often in this age group. With regards to antidepressants, prescription rates show a slow increase of SSRIs in Germany although tri- and tetracyclic antidepressants are still administered more often. Antipsychotics were used mainly for behavioural indications such as disruptive behaviour disorders in children and adolescents. There is no evidence for general over-prescribing of psychotropic medication in Germany and a frequently discussed overmedicalisation of behaviour, but the ongoing increase of the prevalence of prescriptions of stimulants and the high frequency of the use of tri- and tetracyclic antidepressants demand further attention. Results of these pharmacoepidemiologic findings call for urgently needed long term follow-up studies concerning safety.

• 出版日期2010-6