Psychopharmacology in children with developmental disabilities

A variety of motor and behavioral symptoms may cause functional impairment in children with developmental disabilities. Some of these symptoms, including increased tone, involuntary movements, and disruptive behaviors, may be helped by multimodal treatments that include pharmacotherapy. Treatment with psychopharmacologic agents can also cause unwanted CNS side effects that can be as detrimental as the target symptom, however. Identification and measurement of target symptoms at baseline and maintenance drug conditions, in conjunction with careful medical monitoring, provide the pediatrician and family with the information needed to make decisions about drug treatment.