Jennifer L McLaren1,2,3, Erin R Barnett4,5,6, Stephanie C Acquilano5, Milangel T Concepcion Zayas5, Robert E Drake7, JoAnna K Leyenaar5,8. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA. Jennifer.L.McLaren@hitchcock.org. 2. Vulnerable Children Research Group, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA. Jennifer.L.McLaren@hitchcock.org. 3. Department of Pediatrics, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA. Jennifer.L.McLaren@hitchcock.org. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA. 5. Vulnerable Children Research Group, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA. 6. Dartmouth Trauma Interventions Research Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA. 7. Westat, Inc., 85 Mechanic Street, Suite C3-1, Lebanon, NH, USA. 8. Department of Pediatrics, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA.
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. 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. 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. 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.
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. 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. 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. 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.
Authors: Cynthia A Fontanella; Lynn A Warner; Gary S Phillips; Jeffrey A Bridge; John V Campo Journal: Psychiatr Serv Date: 2014-10-31 Impact factor: 3.084
Authors: Jennifer L McLaren; Erin R Barnett; Milangel T Concepcion Zayas; Jonathan Lichtenstein; Stephanie C Acquilano; Lisa M Schwartz; Steven Woloshin; Robert E Drake Journal: Expert Opin Pharmacother Date: 2018-03-29 Impact factor: 3.889
Authors: Susan Dosreis; Yesel Yoon; David M Rubin; Mark A Riddle; Elizabeth Noll; Aileen Rothbard Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2011-11-21 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Susan M Essock; Nancy H Covell; Emily Leckman-Westin; Jeffrey A Lieberman; Lloyd I Sederer; Edith Kealey; Molly T Finnerty Journal: Psychiatr Serv Date: 2009-12 Impact factor: 3.084
Authors: Helen Lazaratou; Dimitris C Anagnostopoulos; Elias V Alevizos; Fotini Haviara; Dimitris N Ploumpidis Journal: Ann Gen Psychiatry Date: 2007-11-15 Impact factor: 3.455