Magellan Healthcare Releases Clinical Monograph: Appropriate Use of Psychotropic Drugs in Children and Adolescents

Magellan Healthcare, the behavioral and specialty healthcare segment of Magellan Health, Inc., published its updated clinical monograph: Appropriate Use of Psychotropic Drugs in Children and Adolescents.

As the country addresses the mental health crisis impacting children and adolescents, Magellan offers its clinical monograph highlighting evidence-based research on the use of psychotherapeutic agents in children and principles for optimal children’s psychopharmacotherapy practice–that underpins its model of care for serving children, youth and their families. The monograph serves as a resource for providers, clients, parents and other stakeholders to be informed and support decision making on behavioral health treatment options for children and adolescents.

In the face of increasing rates of psychotropic drug prescribing in the treatment of young people, Magellan’s monograph provides an in-depth analysis and outlines the need for:

• Improved collaborative care for children’s behavioral health
• Increased use of non-pharmacologic interventions for youth in general and foster care youth in particular
• Consistent approaches to assessment, diagnosis, treatment, oversight and monitoring
• Active family participation and understanding of the child’s illness and challenges they face

“Magellan is proud to contribute this valuable compendium of information and research as we demonstrate a continued commitment to children’s behavioral health and addressing the national children’s mental health crisis,” said Magellan Healthcare Medical Director Louis Parrott, M.D., Ph.D., and the monograph’s lead author. “Now, more than ever, the behavioral health treatment options for our children and youth must be evidence-based. Our monograph supports this notion through packaging the most up-to-date evidence-based research to serve as a reference for providers and families in making informed and safe decisions on the use of psychotropic drugs in kids.”

The January 2022 revision covers the following topics, and provides an updated listing of psychotropic drugs, and associated information, commonly prescribed for children:

• Nature and scope of the problem
• Children in foster care
• Controversies in clinical management
• Principles for optimal psychopharmacotherapy practice
• Research evidence for treatment efficacy of psychotherapeutic agents, including mood disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, disruptive behavioral disorders/aggression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, developmental disabilities and eating disorders
• Drug treatment effects on nervous system development

This resource is available along with Magellan’s award-winning monograph, Understanding and Meeting the Needs of Children and Adolescents at High Risk: Foundations of a Model, which highlights evidence-based prevention and treatment approaches for problematic behaviors and various types of behavioral health challenges in children and adolescents. Both provide valuable insights and information to support the critical behavioral health needs of our nation’s children.

Learn more and access the monographs and overview documents at MagellanHealthcare.com/Monographs.

About Magellan Healthcare: Magellan Healthcare, Inc., the healthcare business unit of Magellan Health, Inc., offers solutions for complex conditions in the areas of behavioral health and medical specialty treatment. Magellan Healthcare serves commercial health plans, employers, state and local governments, and the Federal government, including the Department of Defense. For more information, visit MagellanHealthcare.com.

About Magellan Health: Magellan Health, Inc. is a leader in managing the fastest growing, most complex areas of health, including special populations, complete pharmacy benefits and other specialty areas of healthcare. Magellan supports innovative ways of accessing better health through technology, while remaining focused on the critical personal relationships that are necessary to achieve a healthy, vibrant life. Magellan's customers include health plans and other managed care organizations, employers, labor unions, various military and governmental agencies and third-party administrators. For more information, visit MagellanHealth.com.

(MGLN-GEN)

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