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Atypical antipsychotic drugs are approved by the FDA for use in the pediatric population to treat irritability associated with autism, adolescent schizophrenia, bipolar mania, and Tourette syndrome. Child psychiatrists and pediatricians also prescribe these drugs for the treatment of aggressive behavior, disruptive behavior disorders, and as an adjunctive treatment for severe aggression associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
To examine trends in use of these drugs, researchers identified Medicaid-eligible children (age 0 to 17 years) with at least one outpatient claim for an antipsychotic medication from 2008 to 2013 who were enrolled in a large behavioral health managed care organization in Pennsylvania.
The prevale…