To explore in a community-based sample of persons aged 0–25years:

– trends in antipsychotic prescribing;

– characteristics of the zone of residence associated with antipsychotic prescribing rates;

– the pattern of antipsychotic prescribing.

The study was performed using reimbursement data from the French Insurance Healthcare system. Prescribing trends were investigated over the period 2006–2013. An ecological design was used to assess the impact of the socio-economical and health resource characteristics of the zone of residence (n=96 administrative subdivisions of French territory) on antipsychotic prescribing rates. The pattern of antipsychotic prescribing was explored in a cohort of youths newly treated with antipsychotics.

Over the period 2006–2013, antipsychotic dispensing rates were globally stable in persons aged 0–25 years (4.8 per 1000 in 2006 and 4.9 per 1000 in 2013). First-generation antipsychotic dispensing rates decreased from 3.1 to 2.6 per 1000 (OR=0.96, 95% CI=0.94–0.98), while second-generation antipsychotic dispensing rates increased from 2.7 to 3.4 per 1000 (OR=1.03, 95% CI=1.01–1.05). Antipsychotic prescribing rates were impacted by health resource characteristics of the zone of residence in children aged 10years and under and by socio-economical characteristics in those aged 16–20years. In all the age groups, antipsychotics were principally started by hospital practitioners (47%) and general practitioners (34%). The rates of psychostimulants concomitantly prescribed with antipsychotics were lower than 5%.

Rates of youths exposed to second-generation antipsychotics are still rising. The impact of environmental characteristics on antipsychotics prescribing and appropriateness of these prescriptions in youths should be further investigated.