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https://theconversation.com/antipsychotics-are-increasingly-being-prescribed-to-children-heres-why-we-should-be-concerned-198559>
"An increasing number of young people in the UK are being referred to child and
adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). Alongside this is the rising number
of children prescribed medicines that treat mental illness.
The evidence for the effectiveness and safety of these drugs comes almost
entirely from studies in adults. Studies in children are rare.
While some of these drugs are effective in some children, the extent of
improvement is often small. And there is limited information about the
long-term safety in this age group.
In a recent study, we report that the proportion of children prescribed
antipsychotic drugs doubled between 2000 and 2019. We analysed data from
7,216,791 people aged three to 18 years old.
In the UK, antipsychotics, also known as “major tranquillisers”, are approved
for use in under-18s with psychosis or with severely aggressive behaviour. A
growing body of evidence also suggests that two of these major tranquillisers,
aripiprazole and risperidone, may be effective for improving irritability and
“emotional dysregulation” in autistic children.
Although antipsychotics are most commonly being prescribed for children with
autism and psychosis, they are also being prescribed for an increasingly wide
range of other reasons, such as anxiety disorder, depression and ADHD.
In absolute terms, the overall percentage of children prescribed antipsychotics
was small – 0.06% of children in 2000 and 0.11% in 2019. Clearly, some children
benefit from taking these drugs.
Yet increasing use of these drugs in young people whose bodies and brains are
still growing and developing raises questions about safety. Evidence for this
has yet to be established.
Antipsychotics have significant side-effects, including sexual dysfunction,
rapid weight gain and a greater risk of type 2 diabetes, known as metabolic
syndrome."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
