Neuroscientists at the University of Wollongong have published the results of the first comprehensive study on the long term use of anti-psychotic medications in children.
The study looked at three commonly prescribed drugs called Risperidone, Olanzapine and Aripiprazole.
They found using the drugs during childhood and adolescence could have significant lifelong impacts on levels of hyperactivity, depression and anxiety.
There has been growing concern about the rising use of such drugs among children because they are typically not approved for use in growing brains and are being prescribed “off-label”.
Risperidone does have some approved uses in children.
Michael De Santis, a PhD student who led the study, said researchers theorise using the drugs to repeatedly block receptors in a growing brain leads to more receptors, meaning mental health conditions could get worse later in life.
“[This] would then cause an opposite effect of what the drugs were used for,” he said.
The researchers used rats to study long-term impacts based on the abbreviated life span of rodents and said it was not clear how closely the results would translate to humans.
Mr De Santis said the study found the medicines had a more profound impact on males.
“Males that were given Risperidone were much more likely to exhibit hyperactive behaviour in adulthood,” he said.
“All three drugs led to the expression of anxiety-like behaviours later in life.
“In the female cohort, there were fewer effects but we did see some changes to anxiety-like behaviours.”
Research will help doctors weigh up risks of medication
The study has been published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology and conducted as part of an Australian Rotary Health scholarship.
Professor Chao Deng heads the Antipsychotic Research Laboratory at Wollongong University and supervised the research.
“This is the first comprehensive study [of its kind] in Australia,” he said.
“This study is really important because this kind of information can be used by government agencies to develop new guidelines for use in children.”
The researchers said they hoped the results help doctors better weigh the risks and benefits of the medication before prescribing them.
Children with behaviour problems can be prescribed classes of drugs including ADHD medications, anti-depressants and in extreme cases anti-psychotics.
The powerful anti-psychotic drugs are typically used to treat mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bi-polar which are not usually diagnosed until late adolescence.
Medication is the last resort for some families
The findings of the study are helpful for mother-of-three Alicia Harrison.
She and her husband put their son William on medication when he was four.
“William has autism, he also has ADHD and ODD and quite a bit of anxiety,” she said.
“He has kicked holes in walls numerous times, broken windows, he’s chased his sister around with a knife.
“[Medication] was our last resort but at that age he was already giving his little sister black eyes.”
Ms Harrison said William’s side effects to medications over the years have ranged from facial tics to psychosis.
Often he starts to develop a tolerance to them, which ultimately renders then ineffective.
“You either find research that’s all doom and gloom and there’s 50 side effects or you only hear the good side,” she said.
“It’s a constant battle to think is it benefitting him or are we making it worse.
“Having studies help us make those choices more effectively.”
By the National Reporting Team’s Alison Branley and medical reporter Sophie Scott