Antipsychotics Drugs Still Being Prescribed Without Approval For Off-Label Usage

A new study reveals that prescriptions or use of antipsychotic drugs or medications for children are declining. However, the research also found out that doctors continue to prescribe the drugs "off-label" for children with conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety, and conduct disorders.

The study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry said that the medications neither have the safety and effectiveness data needed nor do they have the United States Food and Drug Administration approval for the off-label usage.

ALSO READ: Doctors Develop System That Can Predict Bipolar Disorder 4 Years Before Onset

(Photo: Steve Buissinne )
Antipsychotics showed efficacy for PDD but no evidence for its efficacy on ADHD

Lead author of the study, assistant professor at Rutgers School of Public Health, and member of Rutgers Institute for Health, Greta Bushnell, Ph.D., MSPH, said in a release that there is a deficiency in information on the efficacy and security of antipsychotics for treating the said situations in children. She added that guidelines recommend that psychosocial services are used before antipsychotics. However, she emphasized that fewer than half of the children undergoing antipsychotic treatment, according to their study, had a visit with a psychiatrist or psychotherapy claim.

According to the release, the most antipsychotic prescribed in recent years is Pervasive Development Disorders (PDD), characterized by postponements of the progression of socialization and communication skills. Dr. Bushnell added some shreds of evidence supporting the use of antipsychotics in children with PDD or intellectual disabilities; US FDA does not approve the said drug for conduct disorders of ADHD. She further said that regardless of continued prescription, there is inadequate evidence for the effectiveness of antipsychotics for conduct or disruptive behavior disorders in very young children, and the long-term effects remain poorly understood.

Results of the study

The release further said that the study was able to find out that antipsychotics were more often prescribed to boys, particularly ages between 6 and 7. The study added that most of the children getting the said drug also filled a prescription for another class of psychotropic treatment like stimulants, clonidine,, or guanfacine for managing ADHD symptoms and antidepressants.

The release also added that children who undergo antipsychotic medication are at risk of sedation, weight gain, high cholesterol, diabetes, unexpected death, and cardiovascular diseases. The release also stressed that long-term adverse effects might occur to children who are taking the drug. According to D. Bushnell, the low rate of use of psychosocial treatments like parent-child interaction therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy might potentially put children at needless risks connected to antipsychotic therapy.

What are antipsychotics?

According to mind, antipsychotics are a type of psychiatric medication which are available on prescription in treating psychosis. Mind added that these drugs are licensed to treat a specific kind of mental health problems with symptoms including psychotic experiences such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, severe depression, and psychotic symptoms of personality disorder. Camp added that antipsychotic medications can help calm an apparent confusion in a person with acute psychosis within hours or days but takes four or six weeks to reach their full effect. Camp stressed that these medications help control symptoms but do not cure or treat the condition.