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Routine investigations in paediatric psychopharmacology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Aisling Mulligan ,
Fiona McNicholas  and
Tom Moran
Aisling Mulligan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James's Hospital andTrinity College Dublin, Ireland. Now at the Mater Child Guidance, Mater Misericordiae Hospital and UCD
Fiona McNicholas
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children Crumlin, St John of God's Lucena Clinic Rathgar and University College Dublin, Ireland
Tom Moran
Affiliation:
Department of Child Psychiatry, The National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland
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Abstract

Objectives: This study examines (1) what are the minimum accepted baseline investigations recommended in the literature prior to prescribing in child psychiatry and (2) whether these investigations are routinely performed.

Method: Medical literature on prescribing in child and adolescent psychiatry was reviewed, and a list of minimum baseline investigations recommended in the literature was established. A postal survey was performed to establish what current clinical practice is among child and adolescent psychiatrists. Current practice was compared with the recommendations in the literature.

Results: There are nine minimum accepted baseline investigations which are consistently recommended in the literature on child psychiatry. Six investigations are routinely performed by over 75% of respondents. However only 30% (n = 16) reported that they ‘always’ carried out eight or more of the nine recommended minimum investigations.

Conclusions: A consensus statement is necessary, providing a list of recommended investigations prior to prescribing in child and adolescent psychiatry. Continuing medical education can then highlight the importance of these investigations.

Keywords

Paediatric psychopharmacologyPrescribing parametersPrescriptionInvestigationsStimulantsAntidepressantsAntipsychotics
Type
Original Papers
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , March 2008 , pp. 11 - 16
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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