title: [Guideline for off-label use of psychotropic drugs in children and adolescents].
abstract: Off-label use is the practice of prescribing pharmaceuticals for an unapproved indication or in an unapproved age group, unapproved dose or unapproved form of administration. Many psychotropic drugs are not put through the rigorous formal process required to officially approve the drug for use in children and adolescents. If no approved drugs are available for a specific indication, child psychiatrists have to decide, whether to utilize the corresponding product authorized for adults, or not to treat with drugs. In many cases non-treatment would not be in line with the legal and moral duty to care and would be assessed as a breach of statutory duty of care in a liability proceeding. Off-label use of drugs requests extended obligation to inform because of enlarged needs of information of patients and parents. The present guideline makes recommendations for child and adolescent psychiatrists of the principle of the obligation to care as well as legal and moral considerations.
authors.affiliation: Evaluierungs- und Qualitätssicherungskommission der ÖGKJP Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Medizinische Universität Wien, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Wien, Österreich. christine.vesely@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vesely
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D056687:Off-Label Use; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs