Antipsychotic Use in Children and Adolescents on the Rise in Spain

Research conducted in Valencia, Spain has revealed a notable increase in the use of antipsychotics in children and adolescents, often beyond approved indications. The study analyzed 128,057 antipsychotic treatments administered to 30,383 individuals between 2015 and 2023. The most frequent indications for antipsychotic use were disorders of personality and behavior, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety-related disorders, and psychotic disorders.

Key Takeaways:

• The use of antipsychotics in children and adolescents increased by 5.7-fold for depression treatments between 2015 and 2023.
• The number of ADHD treatments declined substantially over time, with a sharp decline observed in females and older adolescents.
• Sulpiride was almost exclusively prescribed for dizziness, a non-psychiatric but approved indication in adults in Spain.
• The study found that the number of antipsychotic treatments for autism-related conditions increased by 2.2-fold between 2015 and 2023.
• Changes in antipsychotic use were more pronounced in females and older adolescents, particularly after 2020.
• The study highlighted an increase in high-risk antipsychotic indications, including suicidal ideation, psychoactive drug use, and eating disorders.
• The research emphasized the need for close monitoring and further evaluation of antipsychotic prescription in youth populations.

Statistics:

• 741,213 prescriptions for antipsychotics were issued between 2015 and 2023.
• 128,057 antipsychotic treatments were analyzed in the study.
• 30,383 individuals aged 0-19 years received antipsychotic treatments between 2015 and 2023.
• Depression treatments showed the steepest increase (5.7-fold) among the most frequent antipsychotic indications.
• Suicidal ideation increased by 30.7-fold between 2015 and 2023.
• Antipsychotic use for autism-related conditions increased by 2.2-fold between 2015 and 2023.
• ADHD treatments declined by a substantial amount over time.
• Sulpiride was prescribed for dizziness 97% of the time.

Sources:

• Prescriber-recorded indications for antipsychotic use in children and adolescents in Spain, 2015-2023: a population-based, real-world study. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2025.
• NewsRx. Recent Findings from Anibal Garcia-Sempere and Co-Authors Yields New Data on Autism (Prescriber-recorded indications for antipsychotic use in children and adolescents in Spain, 2015-2023: a population-based, real-world study). Pediatrics Week. November 1, 2025; p 657.