Judicious prescribing of psychotropic medication for children and adolescents

Mental health disorders occur in 10-20% of youth and by age 18, account for 75% of all adult mental illness . The Growing up in Ireland study reported that at age 17, 10% self-reported having been given a diagnosis of anxiety or depression and 4% were in current treatment . They often run a chronic course with significant personal, family, and societal costs, with mental illness now being recognised as a leading cause of global burden of disease and years lived with a disability . Early and appropriate multi-modal intervention is therefore essential to minimise associated adverse effects.