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At the Interim Meeting of the AMA’s House of Delegates yesterday in Honolulu, delegates unanimously approved a report by the AMA’s Council on Science and Public Health (CSPH) that outlines relevant literature on the benefits and side effects associated with atypical antipsychotics in children and calls on the AMA to encourage federally funded research, with a focus on studies of safety and long-term efficacy. And specifically, the report urges NIMH to help in developing guidance for physicians.
“We have seen a dramatic increase in the use of antipsychotic medication in the treatment of children and adolescents, and as the CSPH report notes, much of this use is off-label,” said child psychiatrist David Fassler, M.D., in testimony at reference committee hearings on Sunday. (Fassler, who is treasurer of APA, is pictured testifying at the meeting.) “Patients and parents need more information about the safety and efficacy of these medications especially when used over an extended period of time. The recommendations will encourage ongoing research, monitoring, and education.”
(Image: Mark Moran)