American kids most medicated

Courtesy of Julie Deardorff, Chicago Tribune

American children are approximately three times more likely to be prescribed antidepressants and stimulant medication than children in Europe, according to a study in the journal Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. One possible reason for the differences? Direct to consumer drug advertising which can increase awareness and the use of meds to treat emotional and behavioral problems in kids, according to lead author Julie Zito of the University of Maryland.

Researchers found the use of antidepressant and stimulant medications was three or more times greater in the U.S. than in the Netherlands and Germany. The use of anti-psychotic drugs in the U.S. was 1.5 to 2.2 times greater than the other countries.

Steve - I can't say I'm surprised. Kids are overdiagnosed and overmedicated in the US.