Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2025 Nov;34(11):e70256. doi: 10.1002/pds.70256.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To compare age- and sex-specific trends of psychotropic prescribing between Danish and US 3-17-year-old youths.
METHODS: A consecutive annual cross-sectional study of trends in psychotropic prescribing from 2010 to 2020. Data sources included the Danish National Prescription Registry data and, for the US, a 25% random sample of the IQVIA PharMetrics Plus for Academics database. Psychotropic prescribing (i.e., ADHD medications, antidepressants, and antipsychotics), measured as annual prevalence, was estimated for each therapeutic class, by age group and sex, separately by country. We used Joinpoint models to calculate the average annual percentage change (AAPC).
RESULTS: ADHD medication prescribing decreased for 5-9 year-olds in both countries from 2010 to 2020, while prescribing among 10-17 year-olds was stable in the US and increased in Denmark, particularly among females (AAPC = 4.2% versus 1.4% among males). Antidepressant prescribing increased in older US youths, especially among 14-17 year-olds (AAPC = 6.5%), and females (AAPC = 7.2%). In Denmark, however, prescribing was low and decreased over time, especially among females (AAPC = -4.2%). Antipsychotic prescribing decreased in both countries for all age groups, with the largest decrease among males (Denmark: AAPC = -5.2% and US: AAPC = -6.1%).
CONCLUSION: Pediatric antipsychotic prescribing generally decreased, whereas ADHD medication and antidepressant prescribing presented opposing patterns in the two countries. ADHD medication prescribing increased among Danish females and adolescents, but was stable in the US. Antidepressant prescribing decreased in Denmark, particularly among females, which opposed the marked rise for this group in the US. Future cross-national studies should examine the rationale underpinning variation in antidepressant prescribing.
PMID:41190680 | DOI:10.1002/pds.70256
