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Between 1993 and 2002, childhood antipsychotic use increased sixfold in the U.S. (NEJM JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Sep 2006 and Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006; 63:679). To update these data, investigators used national pharmacy databases that included children and young adults who received ≥1 prescription during 2006, 2008, or 2010 (study N in 2010: aged 1–6 years, 36,484 individuals; aged 7–12, 226,914; aged 13–18, 335,737; aged 19–24, 252,739).
Between 2006 and 2010, prescription rates decreased among young and older children but increased among adolescents and young adults. Rates were highest for males, mostly for disruptive disorders. Almost all prescriptions were for off-label use (over 60%), and antipsychotics were the only psychotropic prescribe…