In a groundbreaking study published in BMC Psychiatry, researchers have shed new light on the prescribing patterns of oral antipsychotics among adolescents with schizophrenia in China, offering critical insights into real-world treatment dynamics in this vulnerable population. This comprehensive retrospective cohort analysis, utilizing electronic medical records from 2018 to 2022, highlights significant trends in the utilization, dosing, and adherence relating to second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), revealing a nuanced picture of clinical management that challenges some pre-existing assumptions.
Schizophrenia, a chronic and severe mental disorder predominantly emerging in late adolescence or early adulthood, poses unique challenges when it manifests in younger populations. Adolescents with schizophrenia require tailored pharmacological approaches due to evolving neurodevelopmental processes and heightened sensitivity to side effects. Historically, data on antipsychotic use in Chinese adolescents has been scarce, leaving clinicians to extrapolate from adult evidence or limited trials. The present investigation addresses this gap by analyzing prescriptions from two major hospitals, opening a window into actual clinical practices in a country where mental health treatment is rapidly evolving.
The study incorporated 1,487 adolescent patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to ICD-10 criteria, ranging across ages 12 to 17. Stratified between two hospitals—PKU6H and XJH—the cohort exhibited a balanced gender distribution, with nearly half male participants in both centers. By defining the index date as the first antipsychotic prescription and following patients until they either aged out, ceased treatment, or until study conclusion, the researchers were able to extract longitudinal data on medication patterns and behaviors.
A pivotal finding of the analysis is the overwhelming preference for second-generation antipsychotics in Chinese adolescent schizophrenia treatment. Nearly all patients (virtually 100%) at both centers had been prescribed SGAs at some point, whereas first-generation antipsychotic use was minimal, limited to just over 4% of cases. This aligns with global trends favoring SGAs for their improved side effect profile, particularly lower extrapyramidal symptoms, which is critical when treating younger patients to ensure quality of life and long-term adherence.
Delving deeper into individual medication preferences, the study revealed distinct but overlapping hierarchies of commonly used SGAs at each hospital. Aripiprazole emerged as the most frequently prescribed medication in both settings, accounting for over half the patients in the PKU6H cohort and approximately one-third in XJH. Olanzapine and risperidone were also prominently used in PKU6H, while risperidone and paliperidone were more common in XJH. These variations possibly reflect formulary differences, prescriber preferences, or regional treatment guidelines, underscoring the complexity of therapeutic decision-making in psychiatric care.
Interestingly, polypharmacy—defined as the concurrent use of multiple antipsychotics—was identified in approximately one-third of patients in the PKU6H group, whereas it was substantially less frequent (around 11%) in XJH. The sustained presence of polypharmacy is noteworthy, given ongoing debates about its efficacy, safety, and long-term consequences in adolescent populations. This trend signals a potential area requiring further guideline clarification and clinician education to minimize risk and optimize outcomes.
Dosing strategies appear cautiously conservative in this patient pool. When standardized through the framework of Defined Daily Dose (DDD), average antipsychotic doses hovered at or below adult equivalent levels, with mean doses of 0.77 and 1.00 DDDs in the respective hospitals. More than 80% of PKU6H and over 60% of XJH patients received dosages at or under one DDD, reflecting adherence to dosing regimens mindful of the heightened vulnerability of adolescents to medication side effects and developmental impact.
Equally compelling is the observation related to medication adherence, gauged through the proportion of days covered (PDC)—a widely accepted metric that captures consistency of medication uptake. Both cohorts exhibited robust adherence rates around 0.8, an encouraging figure that defies assumptions about adolescent compliance challenges. The steady and sustained pattern of adherence across long-term follow-up demonstrates that, despite the complexities inherent in schizophrenia treatment during adolescence, patients and providers are managing to maintain effective therapeutic engagement.
This research offers clinical reassurance that the predominant use of SGAs as monotherapy, combined with cautious dosing and relatively high adherence, is shaping treatment paradigms in Chinese adolescents with schizophrenia. Nonetheless, the presence of polypharmacy in a significant subset signals the necessity for ongoing monitoring and evaluation, ideally through prospective studies that can clarify benefits versus risks in this approach over extended periods.
Moreover, the findings underscore the imperative for culturally and regionally specific data to inform evidence-based guidelines. Mental health treatment cannot be universally standardized without acknowledging linguistic, socioeconomic, and systemic factors that influence prescribing behaviors and patient outcomes. The current study exemplifies how leveraging electronic health records can yield valuable real-world evidence, facilitating precision psychiatry approaches tailored to adolescent needs.
In conclusion, as mental health burdens continue to rise globally, particularly among youth, robust characterization of treatment patterns is essential. This landmark study paves the way for future investigations into optimizing antipsychotic use, minimizing unnecessary medication overlaps, and enhancing adherence through patient-centered care. By illuminating the current state of adolescent antipsychotic treatment in China, researchers provide a blueprint for refined clinical strategies poised to improve prognosis in a profoundly challenging disorder.
Collectively, these insights carry profound implications for psychiatrists, pediatricians, and policymakers alike. The nuanced approach documented here emphasizes that judicious medication selection, dosing prudence, and sustained patient engagement remain cornerstone principles in adolescent schizophrenia management. As scientific understanding deepens, integration of pharmacogenomics and innovative therapeutic modalities may further personalize care, reducing the global burden of this debilitating illness.
Future research avenues inspired by this study include investigating the long-term neurocognitive outcomes of low-dose SGA regimens in adolescents, the psychosocial impacts of varying medication adherence levels, and the optimization of polypharmacy practices. Such efforts will be vital to refining clinical protocols and ensuring that young patients receive not only symptom control but also holistic care supporting their developmental trajectories and quality of life.
This meticulous evaluation of oral antipsychotic use in Chinese adolescents with schizophrenia represents a substantial advancement in psychiatric research, offering an invaluable resource for clinicians seeking to tailor treatments in accordance with evolving evidence and culturally diverse care landscapes. It underscores the promise of real-world data to transform mental health care and exemplifies how focused investigations can resonate well beyond national borders, fostering global improvements in adolescent psychiatric treatment.
Subject of Research: Treatment characteristics and utilization patterns of oral antipsychotics in adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia in China.
Article Title: The treatment characteristics of oral antipsychotics in treatment of adolescents with schizophrenia in China.
Article References:
Wang, H., Zhang, Y., Wu, T. et al. The treatment characteristics of oral antipsychotics in treatment of adolescents with schizophrenia in China. BMC Psychiatry 25, 657 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07113-7
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