title: [Psychopharmacological treatments in childhood and adolescence].
abstract: Compared to adults, the use of psychopharmacological substances in childhood and adolescence is significantly more controversial. Often sensation-seeking media reports on the negative effects of psychopharmacological treatments of children and adolescents intensify this controversy on a regular basis. In addition, even pharmacologically trained experts--though frequently without expertise in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry--question the seriousness and thus the demands for treatment of psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence. Considering this background evidence based treatment decisions in pediatric psychopharmacology are of utmost importance. Effective psychopharmacotherapy needs to be distinguished from ineffective treatments. The pros and cons of such evidence based treatment approaches ought to be weighted out carefully together with the patients and their families. The aim of this article is to provide a rational and concise foundation for the use of psychopharmacotherapy for clinicians treating children and adolescents as well as to point out the currently best evidence for psychopharmacological treatments of selected disorders in child and adolescent psychiatry.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Universitäre Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel, Basel. gerhard.libal@upkbs.ch
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Libal
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmeck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017277:Drug Approval; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors