Prescribed psychiatric interventions for children presented to a university psychiatric clinic in Egypt: a descriptive cross-sectional study

The number of children diagnosed with psychiatric disorders has significantly increased over the past two decades. This study examined the pattern of psychiatric interventions prescribed for a sample of children with mental health problems in Egypt. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the pattern of psychotropic drug prescribing and intervention (medication, doses, duration, side effects, and improvement) in children aged 2-12 years old in primary and secondary health settings, presented to Mansoura University Hospitals in Egypt over 1 year. The identified patterns were compared with the Maudsley guidelines to detect any significant deviations. Among the 272 cases presented to the clinic, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and disruptive behavior disorders were the most prevalent diagnoses (85.3%) followed by intellectual disability (7.8%) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD; 5.1%). Antipsychotic drugs and ADHD medications (atomoxetine and methylphenidate) represented the most commonly prescribed medications (56.6% and 44.5% respectively), whereas behavioral therapy was among the least chosen (8.5%) treatment options. About 1/3 of the sample received multiple psychotropic medications. The prescribed intervention strategies did not match the Maudsley’s guidelines in 76% of the cases with the absence of psychotherapeutic interventions being the most frequently observed factor (95.7%). Although still inadequate, psychiatrists’ intervention strategies were more likely to follow the Maudsley’s guidelines (38.3%), whereas pediatricians and neurologists were almost oblivious to them. Current pattern of psychiatric interventions prescribed for a sample of children with mental health problems in Egypt are not in accordance with standard guidelines, such as “Maudsley’s,” rendering it imperative to provide relevant educational programs for health care providers.