Psychiatric medication refill practices of juvenile detainees

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2013 Dec;44(6):717-26. doi: 10.1007/s10578-013-0365-y.

Abstract

To examine the psychiatric medication fill rates of adolescents after release from juvenile detention. The team reviewed 177 charts. A fill was defined as a psychiatric medication charge to Medicaid 30- or 90-days after release. Differences in demographic characteristics were compared among individuals with fills at 30- or 90-days and those with no medication fills. Forty-five percent of patients were on at least one psychiatric medication. Among detainees on a psychiatric medication, 62 % had a fill by 30 days after release, and 78 % by 90 days. At least 50 % of the adolescents on a psychiatric medication were on an atypical antipsychotic. There was no significant relationship between medication fill and race, age, or sex. Despite the known associations between mental health diagnosis and treatment-seeking with age, sex, and race, it appears that psychiatric medication fill patterns after release from detention are not associated with these factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Drug Prescriptions / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Juvenile Delinquency / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Medicaid / statistics & numerical data
  • Mental Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Prisoners / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychotropic Drugs / therapeutic use*
  • Time Factors
  • Vereinigte Staaten

Substances

  • Psychotropic Drugs