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. 2005 Aug;2(8):14–19.

Table 1.

A summary of the rates of concomitant psychotropic medication in the United States pediatric population

AUTHORS STUDY DESIGN POPULATION SAMPLE COHORT DATES RATES MOST FREQUENT COMBINATIONS
Martin, et al., 2003 Pharmacy claims data Medicaid patients in Connecticut 200,000 July 1998 to June 1999 0.7%

  • Antidepressant and antipsychotic 22%

  • Stimulant and antidepressant 15%
Olfson, et al., 2002 Data from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey (NMES) and the 1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population

  • 10,389

  • 6,490

  • 1987

  • 1996

  • 3%

  • 23%

  • Antidepressant and antipsychotic 22%

  • Stimulant and antidepressant 15%
Rappley, et al., 2002 Pharmacy claims data (< 3 yrs age) ADHD patients with Medicaid in Michigan office-based practices 127 1995–1996 35% Methylphenidate and clonidine
Bhatara, et al., 2002 Data was analyzed from consecutive National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys Office-based physician practices in the US

  • 231

  • 228

  • 203

[# prescribed stimulants]

  • 1993–1994

  • 1995–1996

  • 1997–1998

  • 4.78

  • 10.79

  • 24.70

(% of visits with concomitant psychotropic prescription) 		Clonidine and various antidepressants
Safer, 1997 Outpatient and inpatient chart review Maryland community health centers

  • 86 (outpatient) 75 (inpatient)

  • 158 (outpatient) 59 (inpatient)

  • 1998–1992

  • 1994

  • 9% (outpatients); 26% (inpatients)

  • 21% (outpatients); 42% (inpatients)

 Rates not specifically analyzed
Kaplan, et al., 1994 A questionnaire examining prescribing practices was completed based on chart reviews Psychiatric outpatients in New York (NY) and Ohio (OH)

  • 46 (n=800)

  • 100 (n=622)

  • 1990 (NY)

  • 1989 (OH)

  • 11%

  • 22%

 Rates not specifically analyzed