Children (Jun 2022)

Psychotropic Medications Use among Children with Autism in Saudi Arabia

  • Shuliweeh Alenezi,
  • Fahad Alnemary,
  • Asma Alamri,
  • Dalal Albakr,
  • Lamees Abualkhair,
  • Faisal Alnemary

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/children9070966
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 7
p. 966

Abstract

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Psychotropic medication use is rising among children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in Saudi Arabia. Two hundred ninety-three parents of children diagnosed with ASD completed a parental concerns questionnaire (PCQ) online to examine children’s family socio-demographics, health conditions and comorbidities, and past and current exposure to psychotropic medication as prescribed by their primary doctor. Findings revealed that more than one-third of the parents (39.08%) reported that their children were using medications at the time of the survey; risperidone (53%), methylphenidate (30%), and valproic acid (9%) were the most commonly used. A smaller number of parents stated that their children had previously used medications (16.09%). The most often prescribed drugs among this group were risperidone (45%), followed by methylphenidate (32%) and valproic acid (17%). The variables that showed a statistically significant association with the current use of psychotropic drugs were the child’s age (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.40, p p p p p p < 0.022) showed statistically significant associations with previous use.

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