title: Use of drugs in child and adolescent psychiatry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prescription of psychotropic drugs for children is a sensitive and highly contentious subject which may explain the apparent lack of uniformity and consistency in clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review is based on Medline and manual search of the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 1000 relevant references were found, and information has been culled from all these. Fifty particularly relevant articles have been selected for the reference list.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent years have seen considerable research in this field, and a clearer picture of the benefits and limitations of drug use in children is emerging.
authors.affiliation: Preston Hospital, North Tyneside.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hussain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs