Child and adolescent psychopharmacology update

Understanding pediatric psychopharmacology often is an important part of the practice of a general psychiatrist, as a substantial number of children and adolescents are affected by a major psychiatric illness. A general psychiatrist should consider some key issues before he or she begins prescribing psychotropic medications to children and adolescents. Some agents that are effective in adults may not be effective in youths, and similarly, medications that are well tolerated in adults may be associated with accentuated or additional risks when prescribed to young people. This article is an effort to summarize the recent advances in medication therapy of the pediatric population and bring the general psychiatrist up to date on the evidence-based psychopharmacologic treatment of children and adolescents.