Psychotropic prescribing to children and young people

Children and Young People | Last Updated: 16 Feb 26

Background

A small number of studies have reported high rates of antipsychotic prescribing in children and young people with challenging behaviours. However, no study has been found to analyse the rates of antipsychotic prescribing for children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism, compared to the rates in the general population. This study analysed trends in the rate of antipsychotic prescribing in children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism between 2009 and 2013 in Scotland.

What we did

We linked and analysed the ‘Pupil Census’ which consists of information from publicly funded primary, secondary and special schools in Scotland and the ‘Prescribing Information System’ which contains information on encashed prescriptions in Scotland. The association between antipsychotic prescribing in children and young people with autism and/or learning disabilities and in those without additional support needs were examined using logistic regression models.

What we found

Data collation and linkage is ongoing. On completion, descriptive statistics for key variables such as age, additional support provided, number and class of antipsychotic prescription as well as odds ratios will be reported.

What these findings mean

The substantial health impacts of antipsychotic medications are well documented. This study will provide valuable longitudinal evidence on the use of antipsychotic medications in children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism compared to those without additional support needs. Comparison of prescribing practices across Scottish health boards will enable targeted action to ensure that antipsychotic prescribing is in line with good clinical practice.

Project information last updated 1st May 2018.

Project Lead: Angela Henderson

Research Team: Deborah Kinnear, Michael Fleming, Bethany Stanley, Nicola Greenlaw, Genevieve Young-Southward, Jill P. Pell and Sally-Ann Cooper.

SLDO Group members involved with this study

Angela Henderson

Angela was formerly the Director for Policy and Impact for the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory and remains an affiliate team member, having moved in 2024 to work with the Scottish Government leading the development of annual health checks and learning disabilities data. Angela is interested in how evidence is used in policy making and was involved in many projects at the Observatory. These included: Understanding the impact of Covid-19 on people with learning disabilities The Research Voices Project Helping to set up the SPIRE learning disabilities data project Analysing information about drug prescribing for people with learning disabilities

Professor Deborah Cairns

Deborah is the Director of the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory and Professor of Health and Neurodevelopmental Conditions, in the School of Health and Wellbeing, at the University of Glasgow. Deborah is passionate about her research which aims to improve the health of people with learning disabilities and their families. She has worked on many different projects about people with learning disabilities including: cancer incidence, cancer screening, multi-morbidity (having two or more health conditions), oral health and COVID-19, to name a few. She has also worked on projects about the physical and mental health of family members who support someone with a learning disability. Deborah is committed to conducting research that has impact and works closely with self-advocates with learning disabilities, family carers and third sector organisations who are pivotal in all of her work and who have a shared vision of ensuring the human rights of all people with learning disabilities are recognised, supported and upheld.

Professor Jill Pell

The Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory is based in the School of Health and Wellbeing at Glasgow University; Professor Jill Pell was formerly Director of the School. She is an expert in Public Health. Jill also has another role as Honorary Consultant in Public Health in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Jill’s main research interests are in: Long term conditions like diabetes Maternal and child health Obesity Smoking A lot of her research draws on different administrative data and uses data linkage methods to help answer important public health questions. For example, Jill is leading research which will help to understand the different things associated with additional educational support needs.

Professor Anna Cooper

Anna set up the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory with funding from the Scottish Government. She wants the Observatory to make Scotland fairer and healthier for people with learning disabilities and their families, by: Finding out the health problems people have Finding out how good or bad health care is Telling people about health and health care problems Finding ways to make health and health care better Checking if health gets better or worse over time Helping the Scottish Government, and staff who provide health and social services, to get it right for people with learning disabilities Anna is a doctor. She has done a lot of studies on the health of people with learning disabilities. Anna’s full name is Professor Sally-Ann Cooper.