Medical practitioners' experiences and considerations when managing sleep medication for adolescents and young adults.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The prevalence of sleep disorders and use of sleep medication, particularly melatonin, are rising among adolescents and young adults (13-24 years). In Denmark, melatonin is approved for use in children with autism and ADHD up to 18 years of age, with other prescriptions being off-label in these age groups. The perspectives of medical practitioners on prescribing sleep medications to this age group remain largely unexplored.

Aim

This study aims to investigate the considerations of general practitioners (GPs) and child and adolescent psychiatrists (psychiatrists) when prescribing and deprescribing sleep medications for 13-24-year-olds.

Methods

We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with 10 GPs and six psychiatrists. Data were analyzed using an

SUBMITTER: Andersen NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11834797 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature