Health and Medicine in the News

Headline:

Use of psychiatric drugs for preschoolers soaring

Newspaper Article Synopsis:

A new study has found that physicians are writing prescriptions for preschoolers for stimulants and antidepressants at a rapidly rising rate. This is being done despite the fact that many of these drugs are not recommended for children younger than 6 and that the long-term health risks of using these drugs in kids aged 2-4 is unknown.

Newspaper Article Source:

Washington Post. Use of psychiatric drugs for preschoolers soaring. Star Tribune, 2000 February 23: A4(col. 1-6).

Journal Article Citation:

Zito J.M., et al. Trends in the prescribing of psychotropic medications to preschoolers. JAMA 2000 Feb 23; 283(8): 1025-1030.

lam /02/23/2000