Rational use of psychotropic medications in youth

Rational use of psychotropic medications in youth This article examines a holistic approach to youth mental health care and discusses the concept of ‘deprescribing’ as a systematic method for assessing the necessity and risks associated with the continued use of medication. Systems models have long been considered when trying to understand individual differences in child health and development. (1-4) Within these models, it is posited that child outcomes are produced through complex dynamic interactions between the child’s biological characteristics and multiple levels of environmental influences. For example, immediate environments (microsystems) consist of family, peers, teachers, and neighborhoods, whereas more distal influences such as cultural values, beliefs, laws, and customs (macrosystems) provide a broader context within which the child and family live. (2) Other levels include mesosystems, ecosystems, and chronosystems. (2) This is important when thinking about childhood mental health. These complex system interactions must be considered when diagnosing and treating childhood mental health disorders because adverse environmental conditions have been associated with adverse mental health outcomes. Similarly, positive environmental interactions may have a protective influence on outcomes.