Impact of a national audit on child and adolescent psychiatrists' prescribing practices.

Although improvements reported are welcomed, the increased hesitancy of medication use, avoidance of prescribing more than one medication, and avoidance of off-label use, is of concern with potential unintended adverse consequences. Reluctance in prescribing may deprive youth of access to evidence-based treatments and limit exposure of NCHDs to the safe practice of consultant-initiated psychopharmacology. Further research will be important to determine if this impacts clinical care. Continued education in psychopharmacology is essential along with increased public awareness of the evidence for medication, to help restore public confidence and trust in psychopharmacology.