Citation

Lohr WD, Brothers KB, Davis DW, Rich CA, Ryan L, Smith M, Stevenson M, Feygin Y, Woods C, Myers J, Liu GC. Community Ment. Health J. 2018; 54(1): 17-26.

Affiliation

Child and Adolescent Research Design and Support (CAHRDS) Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA. gil.liu@louisville.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10597-017-0125-8

PMID

28364300

Abstract

Fragmentation in behavioral and mental health care to children has resulted in suboptimal care and high rates of psychotropic medication use, especially antipsychotic medications (APM). A qualitative study, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), aimed to better understand prescribing practices, barriers to optimal treatment, and potential interventions to safeguard the use of APM for children in Kentucky. The most common barrier to optimal care was access to mental health specialists. Social norms and pressure from families contribute to increased medication use. We identify promising interventions to safeguard the use of APM through the lens of the TPB.

Language: en

Keywords

Antipsychotic medications; Childhood; Qualitative methods; Theory of Planned Behavior