| Abstract [eng] |
The author: Ugnius Vaiciukevičius, 5th year student of Pharmacy in Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine. Academic supervisor: Prof. Dr. Kristina Garuolienė, Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacy and Pharmacology center. Title: Utilization of Psychotropic Medications for Treating Mental and Behavioral Disorders Among Children and Adolescents in Lithuania. Aim: To investigate certain aspects of psychotropic drugs consumption among the pediatric demographic in Lithuania and examine how it relates to socioeconomic, social well – being factors. Research objetives: 1. To evaluate which psychotropic drugs were prescribed for the treatment of children’s mental disorders in 2021 in Lithuania. 2. To evaluate the use of psychotropic drugs among boys and girls in different age groups in 2021. 3. To evaluate the use of psychotropic drugs in the children’s population in different counties of Lithuania in 2021. 4. To determine whether socioeconomic, social well – being factors have a relationship with prevalence of psychotropic medication use in the child population in counties of Lithuania. Methodology: Mixed – analysis method was chosen for the research: cross – sectional study to assess the specifics of psychotropic drugs consumption among children. Ecological study to determine whether socioeconomic, social well – being factors had any relationships with prevalence of psychotropic medication use in the child population in different counties. Qualitative analysis method: e. prescription data was received from ESBPI IS, analysis and further research was executed on VDV IS. Filters for e. prescriptions: patient age  17 years old, disease code F00 – F99, residence country – Lithuania, date of prescription – year of 2021, ATC codes – N05B ir N06A. Demographic and social well – being data was obtained from Official Statistics Portal website, socioeconomic status data – from National Hygiene Institute. MS Office “Excel”, “R studio”, “Data wrapper” platforms were used for analysis and visualisation. Results and conclusions: 1) In 2021, a total of 4,220 electronic prescriptions for antidepressants and anxiolytics were issued in Lithuania to treat children's mental and behavioral disorders. More than 87% of these prescriptions were for antidepressants. The remaining 12.91% were for anxiolytics. The most commonly prescribed antidepressants were sertraline and fluoxetine, which together accounted for more than 87% of all antidepressants prescribed. These medications are the first choice for treating mental and behavioral disorders in children, such as depression and anxiety. The most frequently prescribed anxiolytics were diazepam and bromazepam, which are prescribed in rare cases when treatment with first-line drugs is ineffective. 2) The highest consumption of antidepressants and anxiolytics was recorded in the age group of 15 – 17 year old boys and girls, while the lowest was in the 0 - 4 years age group. It was found that in total, girls were prescribed 3 times more antidepressants and 1,94 times more anxiolytics than boys. 3) The largest number of patients who received these medications was found in Šiauliai County. Statistically significant differences in consumption were found between counties. 4) No statistically significant correlation was found between the use of these medications and socio-economic or social well-being indicators. |
