Use of Psychopharmaceuticals Among Finnish Children and Adolescents
The purpose of this research project is to study the use, costs, changes in the use, and factors affecting the use of psychopharmaceuticals in children and adolescents.
The study on antipsychotics examines the use and changes in the use of antipsychotics in children under the age of 18 in 2009–2017. The study utilises Kela’s prescription data to analyse the use, duration of use, and factors affecting the use of antipsychotics in children and adolescents initiating the medication for the first time. In addition, the study focuses on the role of antipsychotics in the psychopharmaceutical treatment of children and examines the order in which medicines are prescribed as well as who develops polypharmacy and how.
In the ADHD medicine study, we examine the use and changes in the use of ADHD medicines in children under the age of 18. Furthermore, we study how ADHD medicine use is divided regionally and by age and sex of children, the duration of medicine use, and related factors. The study utilises aggregated statistical data and individual-level data from Kela’s prescription register.
In the study on antidepressants, the aim is to examine the use, changes in the use, and costs of antidepressants in children under the age of 18 in 2008–2018. The study utilises aggregated statistical data from Kelasto.
Researchers
- Leena Saastamoinen, Leading Researcher
- Jaana Martikainen
- Hanna Rättö
Project Implementation Period
15.1.2018–31.12.2022. The project has ended.
Cooperation Partners
- Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki
- Child Psychiatry, HUS
- Eeva Aronen – The Pediatric Research Center (lastentautientutkimuskeskus.fi)
- Department of Teacher Education | University of Turku (utu.fi)
- University of Eastern Finland (uef.fi)
- University of Turku (utu.fi)
- Fimea (fimea.fi)
- Clinical Pharmacy | University of Helsinki (helsinki.fi)
