Study examines psychotropic medication use in children, teens with Down syndrome
The Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center study shows that teens and young adults between the ages of 12 and 21 were significantly more likely to be on psychotropic medications than children 5 to 11 years old. Among children less than 12, the odds of being on a psychotropic medication increased with age for all classes of medications studied. For 12 to 18 year olds, the odds of being on a stimulant significantly decreased with age, while the odds of being on a medication from other classes of drugs remained stable over time. "Variations in medication use over time in children and teens with Down syndrome suggest that the type and severity of neurobehavioral problems likely change over time, too," says Julia Anixt, MD, a developmental pediatrician at Cincinnati Children's and a co-author of the study. The study is published online in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics . In the younger age group, the odds of being on a stimulant i...