Trends in psychotropic polypharmacy among youths enrolled in Ohio Medicaid, 2002-2008.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study examined polypharmacy patterns and rates over time among Medicaid-enrolled youths by comparing three enrollment groups (youths in foster care, with a disability, or from a family with low income).

Methods

Serial cross-sectional trend analyses of Medicaid claims data were conducted for youths age 17 and younger who were continuously enrolled in Ohio Medicaid for a one-year period and prescribed one or more psychotropic medications during fiscal years 2002 (N=26,252) through 2008 (N=50,311). Outcome measures were any polypharmacy (three or more psychotropic medications from any drug class) and multiclass polypharmacy (three or more psychotropic medications from different drug classes).

Results

Both types of polypharmacy increased across all three el

SUBMITTER: Fontanella CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4539016 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature