BACKGROUND: As a large number of persons are exposed to prescribed psychotropic drugs, their utilisation and impact should be further explored at the population level. AIMS: To illustrate the interest of pharmacoepidemiological studies of psychotropic drugs by selected examples of major public health issues. METHOD: Selective review of the literature. RESULTS: Many questions remain unsolved regarding the behavioural teratogenicity of prenatal exposure to psychotropic drugs, the impact of their increasing use in children, the long-term cognitive consequences of exposure to benzodiazepines, and the risks associated with extension of indications of antipsychotic drugs. CONCLUSION: Pharmacoepidemiological studies need to be further developed owing to the large number of public health questions raised by the extensive and expanding use of psychotropic drugs.
BACKGROUND: As a large number of persons are exposed to prescribed psychotropic drugs, their utilisation and impact should be further explored at the population level. AIMS: To illustrate the interest of pharmacoepidemiological studies of psychotropic drugs by selected examples of major public health issues. METHOD: Selective review of the literature. RESULTS: Many questions remain unsolved regarding the behavioural teratogenicity of prenatal exposure to psychotropic drugs, the impact of their increasing use in children, the long-term cognitive consequences of exposure to benzodiazepines, and the risks associated with extension of indications of antipsychotic drugs. CONCLUSION: Pharmacoepidemiological studies need to be further developed owing to the large number of public health questions raised by the extensive and expanding use of psychotropic drugs.