Clinical research with adolescents: barriers and how to overcome them

This review aims to emphasize the importance of including adolescents in research, outline current standards and evaluate barriers that prevent adolescent research. We also hope to provide some guidance and call for much needed additional direction in the field.

The absolute necessity for including adolescents in research has been an area of focus within the community of adolescent providers and care takers. Recent policy and support from major organizations has emphasized the importance of including this population in research but also pointed out many of the complexities.

Adolescent research is imperative to guiding policy and promoting evidence-based care. Current standards provide both guidance and barriers, yet more research is needed to further guide conduct of ethical research in this population.