Growth monitoring is often inadequate in children treated with antipsychotics 

Background Monitoring practices for antipsychotic medications in children vary and are often inadequate. A medication monitoring protocol was implemented at the Tampere University Hospital (TAUH) child psychiatric unit in 2015. The aim of the present study was to investigate the monitoring practices three years after implementation of the protocol.

Methods The study sample consisted of 81 patients under the age of 13 years who started antipsychotic medication at TAUH after 1.1.2018. The data on baseline and follow-up visits was collected from the patient records. The results were compared with research data obtained at TAUH in 2013–2014. 

Results The median age of the study patients was 9.4 years and 82% were boys. The most common antipsychotic was risperidone which was initiated for aggression or conduct problems. Somatic examinations at baseline and laboratory tests during follow-up were more common than in the patients of the reference data. Repeated measurements of growth and blood pressure were less common.

ConclusionsThere has been some systematisation in antipsychotic monitoring practices in terms of baseline examinations and laboratory tests, but growth monitoring is still inadequate. Standardisation of follow-up practices requires long-term commitment from child psychiatric units.

Ruut Honkola, Leena Pihlakoski, Kaija Puura, Raili Salmelin, Kirsi Kakko

Ruut Honkola

B.M.

Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology