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Review
. 2025 Sep 12;59(11):48674251370467.
doi: 10.1177/00048674251370467. Online ahead of print.

Patterns of psychotropic medication use among young people living in out-of-home care: A scoping review and meta-analysis of international literature

Kostas Hatzikiriakidis  1 , Emma Galvin  1 , Luke Patitsas  1 , Helen Skouteris  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Patterns of psychotropic medication use among young people living in out-of-home care: A scoping review and meta-analysis of international literature

Kostas Hatzikiriakidis et al. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Young people in out-of-home care experience complex mental health needs and may be prescribed psychotropic medications at a greater rate than those not living in care. The aim of this scoping review was to synthesise international literature to (1) understand the prevalence of psychotropic medication use among young people in out-of-home care and (2) identify the factors associated with a greater likelihood of prescribing and/or use.

Methods: This scoping review was conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodological guidance. Five electronic databases were searched for relevant literature published from inception to September 2024. Synthesising the literature involved a mixed-method approach, utilising a proportional meta-analysis, narrative synthesis and content analysis.

Results: Sixty-one studies were eligible for inclusion. Meta-analysis calculated the pooled prevalence of any psychotropic medication as 42.16% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 31.76-52.93%). Pooled prevalence estimates for individual subclasses were 25.60% for stimulants (16.82-35.51%), 21.33% for antipsychotics (12.42-31.87%), 16.36% for antidepressants (10.35-23.42%), 8.57% for mood stabilisers (4.61-13.58%) and 2.24% for anxiolytics (1.12-3.72%). The most commonly examined predisposing factors suggested differences in prescribing practices associated with demographic characteristics such as age, sex and ethnicity.

Conclusions: Psychotropic medication management in out-of-home care is complex; however, further research on the international prescribing practices outside the United States is needed. Improved cross-system coordination, caregiver support, meaningful youth involvement and trauma-informed, person-centred approaches to mental health care in out-of-home care are essential to ensure safe, effective and equitable psychotropic medication use.

Keywords: Young people; mental health; out-of-home care; psychotropic medication.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

"Flowchart depicting the process of selecting studies for inclusion, including identification, screening, eligibility assessment, and final inclusion after addressing various exclusion criteria.
Figure 1.
Screening flowchart illustrating the study-selection process.
compare studies on drug use
Figure 2.
Forest plot illustrating the pooled prevalence of any psychotropic medication use across studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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