Use of Drugs in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

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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.Method: 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.Conclusion: 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.Clinicians practising in the UK are generally conservative in their prescribing of psychotropic drugs for children. This cautious approach is generally justified by concern about toxic side-effects, the potential effects on growth and development, and the paucity of relevant clinical research.