[Pharmaco- and psychotherapy in child psychiatry]

The psychotherapeutic and sociotherapeutic work with the child and his environment is in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry of main importance. During the years of development the psychopharmacological treatment has to include psychotherapeutic work with the parents. Psychotherapy without pharmacotherapy is often indicated, but not the contrary. A treatment with psychotropic drugs seems not to be indicated in cases of light disturbances of a child or adolescent or when they can be influenced by changes in the social environment. Psychopharmacology is a useful supply in the treatment of children with psychic disturbances of medium or high degree. Besides the development of a capacity for identification with the patient the child psychiatrist has to develop a capacity for delimitation, especially than, when there is a tendency of overidentification, which is connected with his choice of the profession. Psychopharmacology will in child psychiatry remain on a empirical level until the clinical entities will be clearer defined, whether in a psychodynamic or in a biologic way. The utility of using psychotropic drugs has always to be compared to the advantages, which may arise in not using these products.