A review of the growing evidence base for pediatric psychopharmacology

This article provides an update of pediatric psychopharmacologic treatment evidence and focuses on six classes of medications in pediatric populations: psychostimulants, mood stabilizers, SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotic agents, and other agents. The evidence is organized by disorder so that it is most useful to practicing clinicians. We begin each section with a brief introduction and summary of the findings published before January 1998. Priority is given to clinical trials that use random assignment and use of a comparison group (ie, placebo-control, head-to-head comparison, or cross-over design). Serious concerns remain about the efficacy and safety of many of these agents for use in children and adolescents. While a great progress is being made, there is clearly much work left to be done.