The Effect of Location on Psychotropic Treatment Practices Among Pediatricians

2012

The purpose of the study was to examine how access factors affect prescribing practices of psychotropic medications among pediatricians. More specifically, the aim of the current study was to examine differences in the treatment of mental and behavioral health problems among children and adolescents across rural, regional, metropolitan, and urban settings across the United States. A total of 516 pediatricians working in outpatient clinics located in 12 U.S. states, including three Plains, three New England, 3 Pacific Northwest, and 3 Southern states completed surveys on their prescription practices for children and adolescents with mental and behavioral health needs. Findings indicate that pediatricians in settings with populations of fewer than 20,000 prescribe all anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, anti-panic, anti-obsessive, anti-psychotic, and mood stabilizers significantly more frequently than their counterparts in urban, metropolitan, and regional settings.

Conference presentations and posters presented

Consumers/Families, Professionals, Policymakers, Students

[email protected]

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