Use of Psychotropic Medications by Youths in Therapeutic Foster Care and Group Homes

• Published in: Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 55; no. 6; pp. 706 - 708
• Main Authors: Breland-Noble, Alfiee M, Elbogen, Eric B, Farmer, Elizabeth M. Z, Dubs, Melanie S, Wagner, H. Ryan, Burns, Barbara J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Psychiatric Publishing 01.06.2004; American Psychiatric Association
• Subjects: Adolescent; Biological and medical sciences; Drug Utilization Review; Female; Foster Home Care; Group Homes; Group psychotherapy; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Disorders - drug therapy; North Carolina; Polypharmacy; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychotherapies. Psychological and clinical counseling; Psychotropic Drugs - therapeutic use; Treatments; North Carolina; Human; Drug; Psychotropic; Use; Mental health; Care; Treatment; Medical prescription; Adolescent; Mental disorder; Community treatment; Elderly; Public health
• ISSN: 1075-2730; 1557-9700
• DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.55.6.706

This article examines the use of psychotropic medications among youths in residential community-based placements. Data are from a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health of therapeutic foster care (June 1999 through May 2001) and group homes (January through June 2001). Data were collected from staff by means of in-person interviews. Many youths in both settings received psychotropic medications, and approximately one-half were taking multiple psychotropic medications. After the authors controlled for demographic and clinical factors, the youths in group homes were nearly twice as likely as the youths in therapeutic foster care to receive medication. However, residential setting was not related to polypharmacology. Additional work is needed to study the appropriateness of use and implications of such patterns for research on intervention outcomes.