Changes in psychotropic medication prescription patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic among Japanese children, adolescents and young adults: interrupted time-series study using a national claims database

A persistent increase in psychotropic medication prescriptions was observed after the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the influence of age and gender, clinicians and society must prioritise the mental health needs of the female and adolescent populations. These findings may be generalisable to other countries that implemented less stringent lockdown measures.