The Complexity of Psychotropic Medication Prescription and Treating Trauma Among Youth in Foster Care: Perspectives from the Lived Experience

Simmel, C (通讯作者),Rutgers State Univ, Sch Social Work, 390 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 USA.
2022-9
Youth in the US foster care system are disproportionately prescribed antipsychotic and psychotropic medication compared to youth not involved with foster care. Research on the relationship between experiences of trauma, mental health symptoms, evidence-based treatment, and safe psychotropic prescribing practices for youth in foster care is limited. We explored stakeholders' perspectives of the relationship between psychotropic medications and trauma informed care (TIC) for youth in foster care. We conducted semi-structured individual and group interviews with foster caregivers, caseworkers, prescribing clinicians, and alumni of the foster care system. Data were recorded and transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a directed content analysis approach. Five themes emerged across and within stakeholder groups: (1) acknowledging trauma; (2) role of psychotropic medication; (3) psychosocial resources; (4) additional supports; and, (5) training and education. Stakeholders identified TIC as an important component of mental health services for youth in foster care. There was not consensus around the role of psychotropic medication in treating trauma; however, most stakeholders felt that it was overused. Respondents suggested including additional supportive team members to help guide youth through the mental health treatment system, and emphasized the importance of support from individuals with common lived experiences. Results demonstrate the need for a system that emphasizes trauma-sensitive clinical interactions and psychosocial supports. Improving training and education for stakeholders, and providing additional sources of support for youth in foster care, could help better identify and treat the effects of trauma and the safe pharmacotherapy for youth in foster care.
ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY IN MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
卷号:49|期号:5|页码:821-833
ISSN:0894-587X|收录类别:SSCI
语种
英语
来源机构
Rutgers State University New Brunswick; Rutgers State University New Brunswick
资助信息
This work was supported by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (Grant No. IHS-1409-23194) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Grant No. 1RO1 HS02600101A1), with additional support from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (Grant No. UL1TR003017).
被引频次(WOS)
0
被引频次(其他)
0
180天使用计数
0
2013以来使用计数
0
EISSN
1573-3289
出版年
2022-9
DOI
10.1007/s10488-022-01203-4
学科领域
循证公共卫生
关键词
Foster care Trauma Health services Lived experience
资助机构
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute(Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute - PCORI) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality(United States Department of Health & Human ServicesAgency for Healthcare Research & Quality) National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences(United States Department of Health & Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH) - USANIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS))
WOS学科分类
Health Policy & Services Public, Environmental & Occupational Health