Antipsychotic use has increased among adolescents and young adults, but not in children 12 and under, according to a retrospective descriptive analysis of nearly 2.5 million antipsychotic prescriptions for patients aged 1-24.

Information was gathered for 2006 (n=764,829), 2008 (n=858,216), and 2010 (851, 874), along with a subset from 2009 (n=53,896). Investigators calculated the percentage of individuals filling 1 or more prescriptions by the following age groups (2006 and 2010 use percentages shown):

• Younger children: 0.14% and 0.11%

• Older children: 0.85% and 0.80%

• Adolescents: 1.10% and 1.19%

• Young adults, aged 19-24: 0.69% and 0.84%

Other findings:

• Males were more likely than females to use antipsychotics, particularly during childhood and adolescence

• In those treated, receiving a prescription from a psychiatrist was not as common in younger children than in the other age groups

Among antipsychotic users, investigators also determined the percentage who had a specific clinical psychiatric diagnosis. The most common mental disorder diagnoses were ADHD in children and adolescents, and depression in young adults.

Researchers concluded that diagnosis patterns in adolescents are indicative of managing developmentally limited and impulsive, aggressive behavior – not antipsychotic symptoms.

Citation: Olfson M, King M, Schoenbaum M. Treatment of Young People With Antipsychotic Medications in the United States. JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(9):867-874.