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A recent sixfold increase in certain child psychotropic prescriptions has fueled concerns about possible overprescribing (JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Jul 12 2006). To investigate this issue, researchers analyzed data from a national survey of 10,123 teenagers (mean age, 15; 51% male). Data included DSM-IV diagnoses, reported use of psychiatric medications (215 drug names were tracked), service use, provider type, and demographics. Medication was judged appropriate if published data supported use for the teenager's specific DSM-IV diagnosis.
Adolescents were directly interviewed, and parents were given questionnaires to complete. Eighty-four percent of parents had graduated from high school; 79% of families had two parents; only 15% lived rurally.…