@article{ref1,
title="Psychotropic polypharmacy and antipsychotics in children: a survey of caregiver's perspectives",
journal="Community mental health journal",
year="2021",
author="McLaren, Jennifer L. and Barnett, Erin R. and Acquilano, Stephanie C. and Concepcion Zayas, Milangel T. and Drake, Robert E. and Leyenaar, JoAnna K.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: We examined caregiver's knowledge, attitudes, and concerns about their child's psychotropic medication regimen and the potential side effects, describe how they seek information regarding treatment, and ascertain their perspectives toward deprescribing. <br><br>METHODS: We surveyed 48 caregivers of children 6-17 years old treated with two or more psychotropic medications or an antipsychotic medication, analyzing outcomes using descriptive statistics. <br><br>RESULTS: Almost all (N = 44, 92%) participants reported feeling very knowledgeable about why medications were prescribed, but only one-third (N = 16, 33%) reported feeling very knowledgeable about potential problems with long-term use or polypharmacy. Half of respondents (N = 24, 50%) reported asking their provider about reducing/stopping medications due to concerns about harmful effects, and nearly half (N = 20, 42%) reported stopping medications earlier than recommended. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to engage caregivers in shared decision-making about complex medication regimens and to support prescribers to safely deprescribe psychotropic medications are needed to address caregivers' concerns regarding psychotropic medication use.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0010-3853",
doi="10.1007/s10597-021-00845-2",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10597-021-00845-2"
}