Psychotropic Medication and Psychotropic Polypharmacy Among Children and Adolescents in the US Child Welfare System

Nearly all children in foster care have experienced maltreatment or neglect and trauma from being separated from their families of origin, all of which can be developmentally disruptive. Literature identified children in the child welfare system as more likely than other children with Medicaid to receive psychotropic medication without accompanying psychotherapy or behavioral intervention.

High rates of psychotropic prescription are concerning because of the limited safety and efficacy data for individuals younger than 18 years. However, few studies have examined psychotropic medication use among children in the US child welfare system nationally. Studies were limited to certain states or focused on a select class of psychotropic medication. Using a national Medicaid database, this cross-sectional study estimated the rate of psychotropic medication and psychotropic polypharmacy use among children and adolescents (hereafter, youths) in the child welfare system compared with other youths with Medicaid coverage.