[How many children and adolescents do receive a combined behavioral and psychopharmacological therapy?]

So far in German literature no empirical data are present concerning parallel medications of behavioral therapy. Also the international research does not treat this topic sufficiently. For this reason this work examines on the basis from reports of requests for behavioral therapy, which medications or groups of substances were used for which child and adolescent psychiatric disorders treated by behavioral therapy. It examines additionally whether correlations of such combinations exist to specific socio-demographic or school-characteristics. Out of 1021 first and subsequent requests for behavioral therapy from the years 2001 variables were retrospectively evaluated regarding intear alia diagnosis, sociodemographic data, school situation, somatic comorbidities or therapies and therapy indication. Results reveal out of five children or adolescents one has an behavioral therapy plus an additional psychopharmacological treatment. 80% of these medications are psychostimulants. Half of the children and adolescents suffering from ADHD or conduct disorders are treated with such, while diagnosis of other domains contribute to combined therapies only with a small percentage. Differences between non-treated and psychopharmacologically treated children and adolescents with ADHD or conduct disorders are presented.