More kids on anti-psychotics
The number of WA children on anti-psychotic medication has risen 75 per cent in four years - the highest increase in Australia.
Figures from the Department of Human Services show 13,655 Australian children under the age of 17 were on anti-psychotics in 2012-13, 60 per cent more than four years earlier.
WA had the biggest increase, with 778 children prescribed the medication, compared with 445 in 2008-09. Queensland had the highest prescribing rate overall.
The figures, obtained by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, also show 1106 children under seven - 42 of them in WA - were among those on anti-psychotics.
Child health experts remain divided about their use. Some believe they are overprescribed while others say the rise reflects more children needing help to deal with issues such as aggressive behaviour.
Child psychiatrist Jon Jureidini said there was no doubt anti-psychotic medicine was the only option for some troubled children but in other cases it was being wrongly prescribed, with not enough monitoring of potentially serious side effects.
"The figures I've seen suggest their use is increasing but rather than saying they're being overprescribed, I'd say in cases they're being badly prescribed in the sense of not being sufficiently thought through," he said.
"They're not being integrated into other interventions and there's insufficient vigilance in monitoring for adverse effects once they're prescribed.
"I don't have a problem with children being given these drugs if the alternative for them is far worse. My concern is some children are being given them when the alternative isn't worse."
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists child and adolescent psychiatry chair Nick Kowalenko said caution was taken when prescribing the medications to children.
They were classically prescribed for autistic children who had behavioural difficulties.
"There is a strong obligation on the prescriber to make sure informed consent is in place, especially for younger kids, and that means being absolutely clear with parents about potential risks and side effects as well as the benefits," Dr Kowalenko said.
"A lot of people think medication will fix everything, but it needs to be part of a comprehensive framework."
'Some children are being given them when the alternative isn't worse.'"Child psychiatrist *Jon Jureidini *
