Does Pro Re Nata Oral Medication Shorten Outburst Duration in Children?
Overview
abstract
We report a prospective, naturalistic, institutional review board-approved study of 104 children ages 5-12 in a psychiatric hospital, of whom 59 were treated with oral PRN medications per parent/guardian-consent, given at nursing discretion, with physicians informed subsequently, and intramuscular STAT medication and/or seclusion/restraint/holds (S/R/H) in dangerous situations when oral medication failed. Intramuscular STAT medication and/or S/R/H were ordered by physicians with parents informed subsequently. The outcome of interest was the duration of the outburst and whether this differed by PRN medication.