Psychotropic Polypharmacy Combinations and Duration of Polypharmacy Among Medicaid-Enrolled Youths

This study evaluated psychotropic polypharmacy frequency and patterns of use among Medicaid-enrolled youths.

A cross-sectional study of a state Medicaid claims database (2015–2020) focused on youths (≤17 years old) with at least one psychotropic medication claim and ≥90 continuous days of Medicaid enrollment. Psychotropic polypharmacy (claims for three or more therapeutic classes of psychotropics for ≥90 consecutive days) was analyzed as average annual days and annual prevalence of class combinations. Multivariable negative binomial regression models assessed changes in annual psychotropic polypharmacy days.

A total of 126,972 unique youths were identified. Almost all youths with psychotropic polypharmacy had three-class combinations, the most common of which included attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder medications, antipsychotics, and antidepressants. The number of polypharmacy days increased from a mean±SD of 227.8±90.3 in 2015 to 235.7±97.5 in 2020. Polypharmacy days significantly increased year over year (rate ratio=1.01, 95% CI=1.00–1.01).

Psychotropic polypharmacy regimens reflect chronic use that is increasing over time.