According to a study that looked at psychiatric prescriptions written for teens and young adults who have been diagnosed with mental health conditions, approximately 25% of these young people have been prescribed two or more psychiatric medications that may potentially lead to adverse effects when used together. The study, reported by HealthDay, found examples of teens and young adults being prescribed multiple psychiatric medications that could cause side effects or have little research support in this population group at the same time.
Clinicians agree that using medication appropriately can result in tremendous improvement in a teen mental health; however, polypharmacy requires greater vigilance than merely providing medication; therefore, both the clinician’s office staff and families have a shared responsibility to monitor the effects of medications on their respective patients and have adequate time to ask questions regarding medications utilized to stabilize their mental health. According to parents of compared patients participating in the study, they reported confusion regarding which medications have what effect(s) and expressed concerns as to whether the side effects of medications such as increased weight, emotional numbing or insomnia are the result of trying to stabilize a teen mental health.
The data is bringing forth a need for improved informed consent, communication, and involvement of teens in decision-making regarding their mental health care. Experts recommend that teens taking 3 or more psychotropic medications have regular reviews of the effectiveness of these medications. Experts believe that all medications prescribed to treat mental disorders in adolescents should be supported with psychotherapy and effective educational programs in both the school and home environments. The use of medications should not be the only way that adolescents receive mental health treatment.
Adolescents need to participate in their own mental health treatment plan development. They often want to know more about why their doctor is prescribing them a certain medication, what effects they can expect, and how to tell their doctor whether or not they think the medication is working. It’s important to give adolescents a safe space in which they can be open and free of judgment when communicating with their doctor.
The results of this research do not denounce the use of medications for treating adolescents’ mental health disorders, but they do suggest that more transparency and safety should be practiced by prescribers when giving adolescents medications. Families should feel empowered to ask their mental health providers questions, to regularly check the list of medications their child is taking and be treated as individuals with mental health disorders rather than just a bunch of symptoms being managed with medication.
Source: U.S. News / HealthDay – Young People At Risk From Psychiatric Drug Combos, Study Says
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