Citation

Miller L, Riddle MA, Pruitt D, Zachik A, Dosreis S. J. Behav. Health Serv. Res. 2013; 40(1): 97-110.

Affiliation

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 4940 Eastern Avenue, D2E, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA, lmille84@jhmi.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Association of Behavioral Healthcare Management, Publisher Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s11414-012-9314-y

PMID

23319375

Abstract

This study examined the association between acute aggressive behavior patterns of 145 adolescents in residential treatment facilities with use of and changes in antipsychotic medication for the chronic management of aggression. Seclusion/restraint (S/R) frequency over 12 months was used to categorize youth into none, low, moderate, and high S/R groups. Data were analyzed using longitudinal mixed effects logistic regression models that allowed for intra-subject variability over time. The high and moderate S/R groups were significantly more likely to receive antipsychotics, get higher doses, and have changes in medication compared with the none S/R group. Increases in antipsychotic dose were associated with a lower likelihood of changes in antipsychotic medication over time. Despite persistent antipsychotic use at higher doses, youth in the high and moderate S/R groups continued to be secluded/restrained frequently. The findings question the adequacy of these medications in managing aggressive behavior.

Language: en