Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research was conducted on 175 parents of children under 14 and two comparison groups: 75 parents of children with mental illness and 100 parents of children without illness. Welfare teaching hospital at Medical city teaching centre and Ibn Rushd teaching hospital for mental illnesses collected data from February 1 to June 1, 2017. Outpatient clinics referred these individuals to the hospital for treatment or follow-up. A questionnaire to collect socio-demographic data on parents and their children and parents' attitudes about psychiatric medication for children.

Results: 155 surveys were completed by researcher. Mothers completed the questionnaire more than fathers, and 43.7% were elementary school graduates. If needed, 141 parents (80.6%) agreed to give their children psychiatric medication. About 31% chose psychotherapy before medicine. Parents of ill children choose pharmaceuticals (40%) for psychological disorder care, followed by psychotherapy or a combination of them, whereas parents of healthy children prefer psychotherapy (32%), medication, and spiritual/religious therapy. Parental or family history of psychiatric condition did not influence medication commencement.

Conclusion: In both groups, most parents agreed to provide their children psychotropic medicines if required, although parents with children without mental illness favored psychotherapy first. Three quarters of parent’s question medicine due to a lack of information from doctors or medical professionals. Fear and fears about drug side effects impacting cognitive or physical development or addiction should be considered.