COMBINED PHARMACOTHERAPY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN A RESIDENTIAL-TREATMENT CENTER

Objective: To investigate characteristics of children and adolescents with a history of combined pharmacotherapy (CPT) and compare them with a group with no history of CPT. Method: Eighty-three consecutive admi ssions to a residential treatment center were divided into a CPT and a no-CPT group based on treatment history and compared by chart review. Prevalence of lifetime psychiatric medication use and CPT exposure we re assessed. Demographic, diagnostic, treatment, behavioral, and medic ation variables were compared across the two groups. Results: Medicati on use was present in the treatment history for 89.2% and a history of CPT was found for 60.3% of subjects. Admission to current placement f rom inpatient psychiatry, lifetime number of psychiatric placements, l ifetime number of psychiatric diagnoses, and nonseizure neuropsychiatr ic comorbidity were significantly associated with CPT. Aggression and neuroleptic use were also significantly associated with CPT. Admission psychiatric diagnostic comorbidity was not associated with CPT. Concl usions: A high prevalence of psychiatric medication use and CPT was fo und in this population. Variables assessing illness severity, aggressi ve behavior, and nonseizure neuropsychiatric comorbidity may identify youths in psychiatric treatment settings with a high prevalence of pas t or current CPT exposure. Further research on the CPT of aggression i s warranted.