[Aripiprazole use in children and adolescent psychiatric patients]

Aripiprazole inaugurates a new generation of antipsychotics called dopamine-serotonin system stabilizers. Its mechanism of action is different as aripiprazole is a partial dopamine D(2) and serotonin 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist and 5-HT(2A) receptor antagonist. Therefore, aripiprazole is thought to have an antagonistic action in the mesolimbic pathway but an agonistic action in the mesocortical pathway, tending to normalize the dopaminergic transmission regardless of the type of imbalance. Clinical trials involving children and adolescents have demonstrated the efficacy of aripiprazole in bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, mood disorders associated with pervasive developmental disorders, in tics and Tourette's. The most frequent side effects are extrapyramidal symptoms and sleepiness and are dose-dependent. Nevertheless, contrary to other second-generation antipsychotics available in France, it induces little weight gain, does not modify lipid and glucidic profiles, does not increase prolactin levels, or induce QTc lengthening. The main advantage of aripiprazole is its good safety profile, with different toxicity targets to other second-generation antipsychotics available in France. Aripiprazole appears to be an alternative for children and adolescents who are vulnerable to these side effects and are having trouble coping with them.