Clinical and adverse effect profiles of paediatric polypharmacy by gender and ADHD status

Yusuf Selman Çelik; Görkem Solgun; Sidre Nur Karakolcu; Berkay Şahin; Nur Duru; Elif Nur Şen Demirtaş; Meryem Kaşak

doi:10.66235/kumj.1906761

Clinical and adverse effect profiles of paediatric polypharmacy by gender and ADHD status

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of concurrent psychotropic polypharmacy systematically, its associated adverse effects, and their relationship with individual factors such as diagnosis and gender in a child and adolescent outpatient population. While most existing literature on polypharmacy focuses on adults, there is a lack of recent, field-based data concerning children and adolescents.

Methods: Among 4,928 outpatient admissions in January 2024, 595 children receiving two or more concurrent psychotropic medications were included. Polypharmacy was operationalized as the concurrent use of two or more psychotropic medication classes for a minimum duration of 30 consecutive days, consistent with thresholds described in previous guidelines (e.g., AACAP, NICE). Over a six-month follow-up, diagnostic profiles, medication regimens, comorbidities, adverse effects, and adherence were evaluated using clinical records and national e-Nabız data.

Results: The sample was 57.1% male, with a median age of 13. Polypharmacy was most common among 16–18-year-olds. ADHD (52.8%), generalized anxiety disorder (19.5%), and depression/dysthymia (9.2%) were the most frequent diagnoses. Comorbidity was present in 76.6% of cases. Anxiety and mood disorders were more common in females, whereas specific learning disorder and enuresis were more prevalent in males. Stimulant-antipsychotic combinations were more typical in males; antidepressant-antipsychotic combinations were more common in females. Reported adverse effects included sleep disturbances, appetite changes, and irritability, with no significant differences between medication groups.

Conclusion: Polypharmacy was more frequent in adolescents and those with ADHD, anxiety, or depression. Gender differences in medication patterns likely reflect underlying psychopathology. Given the high rates of adverse effects, structured monitoring protocols, including sleep and appetite checklists, should be routinely implemented. The findings support the integration of scheduled medication reviews and age- and gender-sensitive pharmacotherapy planning in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Psychiatry

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Yusuf Selman Çelik
0000-0002-1131-2814
Türkiye

Görkem Solgun
0000-0002-6290-4086
Türkiye

Sidre Nur Karakolcu
0009-0005-1908-5133
Türkiye

Berkay Şahin
0009-0007-5089-8022
Türkiye

Nur Duru
0009-0002-9403-8925
Türkiye

Elif Nur Şen Demirtaş
0000-0003-3861-8650
Türkiye

Meryem Kaşak
0000-0003-0176-868X
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 12, 2026

Submission Date

August 29, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 2, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 6 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1906761

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA66KC76UR

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Çelik, Y. S., Solgun, G., Karakolcu, S. N., Şahin, B., Duru, N., Şen Demirtaş, E. N., & Kaşak, M. (2026). Clinical and adverse effect profiles of paediatric polypharmacy by gender and ADHD status. Kastamonu Medical Journal, 6(1), 64-71. https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1906761

AMA

1.Çelik YS, Solgun G, Karakolcu SN, et al. Clinical and adverse effect profiles of paediatric polypharmacy by gender and ADHD status. Kastamonu Medical Journal. 2026;6(1):64-71. doi:10.66235/kumj.1906761

Chicago

Çelik, Yusuf Selman, Görkem Solgun, Sidre Nur Karakolcu, et al. 2026. “Clinical and Adverse Effect Profiles of Paediatric Polypharmacy by Gender and ADHD Status”. Kastamonu Medical Journal 6 (1): 64-71. https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1906761.

EndNote

Çelik YS, Solgun G, Karakolcu SN, Şahin B, Duru N, Şen Demirtaş EN, Kaşak M (March 1, 2026) Clinical and adverse effect profiles of paediatric polypharmacy by gender and ADHD status. Kastamonu Medical Journal 6 1 64–71.

IEEE

[1]Y. S. Çelik et al., “Clinical and adverse effect profiles of paediatric polypharmacy by gender and ADHD status”, Kastamonu Medical Journal, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 64–71, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.66235/kumj.1906761.

ISNAD

Çelik, Yusuf Selman - Solgun, Görkem - Karakolcu, Sidre Nur - Şahin, Berkay - Duru, Nur - Şen Demirtaş, Elif Nur - Kaşak, Meryem. “Clinical and Adverse Effect Profiles of Paediatric Polypharmacy by Gender and ADHD Status”. Kastamonu Medical Journal 6/1 (March 1, 2026): 64-71. https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1906761.

JAMA

1.Çelik YS, Solgun G, Karakolcu SN, Şahin B, Duru N, Şen Demirtaş EN, Kaşak M. Clinical and adverse effect profiles of paediatric polypharmacy by gender and ADHD status. Kastamonu Medical Journal. 2026;6:64–71.

MLA

Çelik, Yusuf Selman, et al. “Clinical and Adverse Effect Profiles of Paediatric Polypharmacy by Gender and ADHD Status”. Kastamonu Medical Journal, vol. 6, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 64-71, doi:10.66235/kumj.1906761.

Vancouver

1.Yusuf Selman Çelik, Görkem Solgun, Sidre Nur Karakolcu, Berkay Şahin, Nur Duru, Elif Nur Şen Demirtaş, Meryem Kaşak. Clinical and adverse effect profiles of paediatric polypharmacy by gender and ADHD status. Kastamonu Medical Journal. 2026 Mar. 1;6(1):64-71. doi:10.66235/kumj.1906761