Psychotropic Medication Use in Children and Youth with Autism Enrolled in Medicaid.

The study counted filled prescriptions from claims records, not whether children took them, how well they tolerated them, or whether symptoms improved. It did not measure psychosocial or behavioral service use, so it cannot say whether medication use happened alongside or instead of therapy. It did not examine intellectual disability, which can affect prescribing, monitoring, and treatment planning. It used only Medicaid enrollees, so findings may not apply to privately insured children. Co-occurring diagnoses came from claims codes and were not specific enough to distinguish types of bipolar disorder or depression. Race/ethnicity was missing for 13.53% of youth in 2016, which may affect comparisons by race. The study is descriptive and cannot show that medication improved or worsened behavior.

Do not read these prescription rates as evidence that psychotropic medications helped or harmed children. The study counted filled prescriptions in Medicaid claims, not symptoms, therapy participation, medication adherence, or outcomes.