Benzodiazepines Intake at Youth–Experience from Adolescent Consultation at Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte

Abstract

Introduction

The increasing intake of psychotropic medication by children and adolescents is a reality that worries many mental health professionals. Recently, european school survey project on alcohol and other drugs showed that tranquillizers and sedatives were mainly consumed by Portuguese youth, without medical prescription, bringing this topic to medical and health stakeholders’ attention.

Objectives

Characterize benzodiazepine prescription in the youth population followed in a psychiatric consultation at centro hospitalar Lisboa Norte psychiatric department.

Aims

Discuss Portuguese trends in mental health among youths.

Methods

Analysis of 127 adolescents, seen for the first time from January to December of 2015, using Microsoft office excel.

Results

Our sample is comprised by adolescents from 12 to 20 years old, 81 female and 46 male. Only 16% of the adolescents were medicated with benzodiazepines, although low neuroleptic doses were often required, and 30% carried out psychotherapy. Sixty-five per cent of the diagnosis corresponds to anxiety, depressive and impulse control disorders.

Conclusion

Although trends in Portuguese youth mental health seem to be encouraging, as highlighted by local reports, European Union Joint Action on Mental Health and Well-Being recommends community and school active roles in primary and secondary prevention. Our experience shows that benzodiazepines’ use is rarely necessary and symptoms as anxiety, impulsivity and insomnia decreased with other strategies. Coping strategies must be discussed with the adolescents, in formal psychotherapy or in a supportive and containing therapeutic relationship, as well as discussed in family interventions. Community initiatives promotion and increased mental health care services accessibility should be priorities.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.