Paliperidone Use in Child Psychiatry: Evidence or Diffidence?

Paliperidone is FDA-approved for schizophrenia aged 12-17. However, the pharmacologic portfolio, extrapolation from adult studies, and the long track record of the parent drug, risperidone in child/adolescent psychiatric (CAP) population might expand its therapeutic potential.

EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews were searched for all relevant studies of using paliperidone in child psychiatry up to date of February 2019.

Sound evidence base supports its use in early-onset schizophrenia, juvenile bipolar, and autism spectrum disorder. A modicum of evidence supports its use in Tourette syndrome and as adjuventia in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Paliperidone has some dynamic and kinetic superiority to the parent drug risperidone. Nonetheless, larger rigorous studies would define the real place of the atypical antipsychotic paliperidone in child and adolescent psychiatry. Until then, risperidone with its long track record in CAP population would remain a first option though.