Background: The limited number of systematic, controlled studies that assess the safety and efficacy of psychotropic medications for children reinforce the hesitation and reluctance of parents to administer such medications. The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of parents of children with psychiatric disorders, towards psychotropic medication.
Methods: A 20-item questionnaire was distributed to 140 parents during their first contact with an outpatient child psychiatric service. The questionnaire comprised of questions regarding the opinions, knowledge and attitudes of parents towards children's psychotropic medication. Sociodemographic data concerning parents and children were also recorded. Frequency tables were created and the chi-square test and Fisher's exact tests were used for the comparison of the participants' responses according to sex, educational level, age and gender of the child and use of medication.
Results: Respondents were mostly mothers aged 25-45 years. Children for whom they asked for help with were mostly boys, aged between 6 and 12 years old. A total of 83% of the subjects stated that they knew psychotropic drugs are classified into categories, each having a distinct mechanism of action and effectiveness. A total of 40% believe that there is a proper use of psychotropic medication, while 20% believe that psychiatrists unnecessarily use high doses of psychotropic medication. A total of 80% fear psychotropic agents more than other types of medication. Most parents are afraid to administer psychotropic medication to their child when compared to any other medication, and believe that psychotherapy is the most effective method of dealing with every kind of mental disorders, including childhood schizophrenia (65%). The belief that children who take psychotropic medication from early childhood are more likely to develop drug addiction later is correlated with the parental level of education.
Conclusion: Parents' opinions and beliefs are not in line with scientific facts. This suggests a need to further inform the parents on the safety and efficacy of psychotropic medication in order to improve treatment compliance.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1744-859X-6-32 | DOI Listing |
Acta Pharmacol Sin
January 2025
Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China.
Patients suffering epilepsy caused by the gain-of-function mutants of the hKCNT1 potassium channels are drug refractory. In this study, we cloned a novel human KCNT1B channel isoform using the brain cDNA library and conducted patch-clamp and molecular docking analyses to characterize the pharmacological properties of the hKCNT1B channel using thirteen drugs. Among cinchona alkaloids, we found that hydroquinine exerted the strongest blocking effect on the hKCNT1B channel, especially the F313L mutant.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: Childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with the early onset of psychiatric and medical disorders and accelerated biological aging.
Objective: To identify types of maltreatment and developmental sensitive periods that are associated with accelerated adult brain aging.
Design: Participants were mothers of infants recruited from the community into a study assessing the effects of CM on maternal behavior, infant attachment, and maternal and infant neurobiology.
Drug Des Devel Ther
January 2025
Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Purpose: This study aimed to assess the protective effect of a clinical dose esketamine on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and to reveal the potential mechanisms associated with microglial polarization and autophagy.
Methods: Experimental cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in adult rats and simulated by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in BV-2 microglial cells. Neurological and sensorimotor function, cerebral infarct volume, histopathological changes, mitochondrial morphological changes, and apoptosis of ischemic brain tissues were assessed in the presence or absence of esketamine and the autophagy inducer rapamycin.
Drug Des Devel Ther
January 2025
Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
Purpose: While esketamine shows promise as an adjunct in procedural sedation, its impact on postoperative cognitive recovery remains incompletely characterized. This study investigated the effects of esketamine on multiple dimensions of recovery, particularly cognition, in patients undergoing colonoscopy with propofol-based sedation.
Patients And Methods: We conducted this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial from January 6, 2023, to May 20, 2024, at two hospitals in China.
Acta Neuropsychiatr
January 2025
Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Objective: This study aimed to utilise graph theory to explore the functional brain networks in individuals with tic disorders and to investigate resting-state functional connectivity changes in critical brain regions associated with tic disorders.
Methods: Participants comprised individuals with tic disorders and age-matched healthy controls, ranging from 6 to 18 years old, all recruited from Korea University Guro Hospital. We ensured a medication-naïve cohort by excluding participants exposed to psychotropic medications for at least three weeks prior to the study.
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