Section - CAP Smart Takes

02. Racial Disparities in Pediatric Psychotropic Prescriptions

Published on June 1, 2023 Certification expiration date: June 1, 2026

David R. Rosenberg, M.D.

Chair of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience - Wayne State University School of Medicine

Key Points

Black and Hispanic pediatric patients are less likely to receive psychotropic prescriptions than White and non-Hispanic patients.
Unconscious or conscious bias and discrimination could impact healthcare disparities and reflect access to behavioral health treatment.

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Hi! This is David Rosenberg here for the Psychopharmacology Institute. In this CAP—or Child and Adolescent Psychiatry—Smart Take, we will closely examine racial and ethnic differences in prescribing psychotropic medication in pediatric patients. In this particular article by French and colleagues, they looked at these prescription trends and at racial and ethnic differences among pediatric patients who are enrolled in North Carolina Medicaid, which allowed them to leverage many patients. So, they included patients between 0–21 years with at least 1 North Carolina Medicaid claim from October 1, 2017, through September 30, 2018. This involved over 980,000 patients.

Now, what they found, and this was interesting, some surprising, some perhaps expected, but it underscores that we have much work ahead of us to help minimize ethnic and racial disparities because we may have the best treatment in the world. But if for whatever reasons our patients are not getting them,

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03. Safety and Tolerability of Cariprazine in Pediatric Patients

Learning Objectives:

Understand the association between sleep disturbances and increased risk of injury and suicidality in children and adolescents.
Understand the racial and ethnic disparities in psychotropic medication prescribing among pediatric patients and recognize the importance of addressing these disparities in clinical practice.
Evaluate the potential benefits and risks of cariprazine as a treatment option for pediatric patients with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder.
Understand the impact of stimulant medication on growth trajectories in children with ADHD and the factors that can influence this impact, such as race and total stimulant exposure.
Describe the short- and long-term efficacy and tolerability of antipsychotic medications in youth with psychosis.

Original Release Date: June 1, 2023

Review and Re-release Date: March 1, 2024

Last Review Date: April 1, 2026

Expiration Date: June 1, 2026

Expert: David Rosenberg, M.D.

Medical Editor: Lorena Rodriguez, M.D.

Relevant Financial Disclosures:

None of the faculty, planners, and reviewers for this educational activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose during the last 24 months with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Contact Information: For questions regarding the content or access to this activity, contact us at support@psychopharmacologyinstitute.com

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Complete the Post Activity Evaluation for providing the necessary feedback for continuing accreditation purposes and for the development of future activities. NOTE: Completing the Post Activity Evaluation after the quiz is required to receive the earned credit.
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Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Medical Academy LLC and the Psychopharmacology Institute. Medical Academy is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement

Medical Academy designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.