New York, NY – A recent study has found that an increasing number of young people are being prescribed multiple psychiatric drugs. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago, analyzed data from 2009 to 2015 and found that the number of young people aged 5 to 24 who were prescribed two or more psychiatric drugs at the same time had doubled during that time period.
The study also revealed that the use of multiple psychiatric drugs among young people increased with age. While around 1% of 5 to 9-year-olds were prescribed multiple psychiatric drugs, the number increased to 25% among 10 to 24-year-olds. The most commonly prescribed combinations of drugs were antidepressants with antipsychotics and antipsychotics with stimulants.
Dr. Mark Olfson, a professor of psychiatry at Columbia University who was not involved in the study, stated that the findings raise concerns about the potential risks of using multiple psychiatric drugs in young people. He emphasized the importance of carefully considering the risks and benefits of such combinations, as well as the lack of long-term safety and efficacy data for these combinations.
Experts also pointed out that there is a need for more research on the effects of multiple psychiatric medications on young people, as well as the long-term implications of such treatments. The study’s findings highlight the importance of closely monitoring the prescribing patterns and potential risks of psychiatric medications in young people.
The increase in the use of multiple psychiatric drugs among young people presents a challenge for healthcare providers, who must carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks of such treatments. The study’s authors called for further research to better understand the factors contributing to the increase in the use of multiple psychiatric drugs and to develop guidelines for safe and effective prescribing practices for young people.