Long-term Effect of Psychotropic Medication in Children

Established: April 2005

Convenor (Chair): Dr Ian Wong, School of Pharmacy & Institute of Child Health London

Members: child psychiatrists, pharmacists, pharmacoepidemiologists and health services researchers: Dave Coghill (University of Dundee); Margaret Jane Johnston Thompson (University of Southampton); Emily A. Simonoff (Institute of Psychiatry); Edmund J S Sonuga-Barke (University of Southampton); Eric Taylor (Institute of Psychiatry); Ian Wong (Convenor); representatives from ADDISS (National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service) and Young Mind.

Remit and Aims:
Due to different economic, ethical and technical reasons, paediatric psychotropic medicines research has been poorly developed. However, the recent commitment shown by the US, EU and UK governments has created an unprecedented opportunity to conduct paediatric psychotropic medicines research. This research group will develop proposals to investigate the long-term effects (safety and efficacy) of psychotropic medications in children and adolescents. Key research questions are (1) Are neuroleptics drugs safe in children with psychiatric and behavioural problems (2) What are the appropriate conditions to stop stimulants in ADHD patients (3) Is cognitive behavioural therapy more effective than drug treatment in depressed teenagers in the long-term?

This research group expects to work with the Medicines for Children Network which is currently being established.

Current Status & Future Plans:
1) The HTA called for “Medicines for Children” funding applications in August 2005 and submission in October 2005. Several members have formed sub-groups to submit outline proposals on ADHD treatment (led by Prof Eric Taylor) and antipsychotic treatment (led by Dr Paramala Santosh) to the HTA. The ADHD proposal was shortlisted for full application but was not funded.

2) The HTA-funded project, Cessation of Attention deficit hyperactivity Disorder Drugs in the Young (CADDY) (CI Ian Wong) has been adopted by the Mental Health Research Network (MHRN) and the Medicines for Children Research Network (MCRN) and is currently being conducted.

3) A workshop on ADHD treatment and a workshop on atypical antipsychotic treatment were held on 30 June 2006 at the London School of Pharmacy involving clinicians, pharmacists, researchers and service user representatives from Lincoln ADHD Support Group and ADDISS. Many research ideas were raised.

4) Based on the ideas from the workshops, a programme grant was submitted to the National Institute of Health Research in June 2006 and was invited to submit a full application in September 2006. The proposal was not funded but the investigators were encouraged to resubmit a modified proposal for the next programme grant application round. The research group, however, have decided not to resubmit until the CADDY project is completed so that more information will be available to the NIHR.

5) A funding application was submitted to the NIHR Service Delivery and Organisation (SDO) Programme. The project aimed to study ADHD treatment issues surrounding the transition from paediatric to adult care - Service Transfer for Adolescents Requiring Continued Treatment for ADHD (STARTA). The research team was invited to submit a full application; however, it was unsuccessful.