Please read Dr. Crystal’s article in Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research titled, “The Role of Formal Policy to Promote Informed Consent of Psychotropic Medications for Youth in Child Welfare Custody: A National Examination. “
Medications to manage emotional and behavioral health problems (hereafter, “psychotropic medications”) are prescribed to increasing numbers of children in the United States (US), including more than one-quarter of the approximately 400,540 children removed from their caregiver of origin and placed into child welfare (hereafter, “youth in child welfare custody”). Concerns around the safe and judicious use of psychotropic medication among youth in child welfare custody exist due to observed prescribing patterns. Studies find that the target symptoms for prescribing of specific classes of psychotropic medications (e.g., antipsychotic medications) do not align with FDA-approved indications or where the evidence base for their use is strongest. Other concerns include youth in child welfare custody are not receiving psychosocial treatment as a first line of treatment, as well as lack of blood glucose and serum cholesterol monitoring for potential cardiometabolic side effects. To read the full article.
The Role of Formal Policy to Promote Informed Consent of Psychotropic Medications for Youth in Child Welfare Custody: A National Examination. Mackie TI, Schaefer AJ, Palatucci JS, Leslie LK, Crystal S, Gusmano M, Karpman HE. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2022 Aug 6. PMID: 35932357 DOI: 1007/s10488-022-01212-3 Online ahead of print.