title: Pharmacotherapy of affective disorders in children and adolescents.
abstract: The pharmacotherapeutic management of affective disorders in children and adolescents follows the same general principles as for adults. In addition to the adult principles and guidelines, children present a specific challenge in diagnosis because of the specifics of symptomatology to development. The immaturity of the organism results in less responsivity to biologic therapies because of the poorly established biologic basis of the illness at this stage of life. The metabolic aspects of pharmacotherapy modify dosage and necessitate special attention to the effects of pharmacotherapeutic agents on physical and emotional development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Y D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Lapierre
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Raval
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D008094:Lithium