[The use of psychopharmaceuticals, psychostimulants and antidepressants in children and adolescents].

The aim of this study is to estimate the use of psycholeptics, psychostimulants and antidepressants among children and adolescents younger than 19 years in Denmark. Children and adolescents were registered as being under treatment with psycholeptics, psychostimulants or antidepressants if they at least once during the test period July 1996 to June 1997, filled a prescription for such drugs at a Danish pharmacy. 3,890 children and adolescents, corresponding to 0.3% of the section of the population, are under treatment. The most prevalent drugs are of the ATC-group N05B (anxiolytics). The age group of 16-18 year olds has the largest consumption, and 87% received only one drug. The use of above mentioned medicine among children and adolescents is lower than the level of use in the general population.