Psychopharmacotherapy in Children and Adolescents

Psychopharmacotherapy is not often used in children and adolescents. However, drug therapy is establishing itself as a part of overall care, particularly when treating severe psychological problems. If medication is used appropriately and combined with psychotherapeutic and other treatments, it can relieve the child's mental suffering and speed up recovery. Psychiatric medication in children usually needs specialist management. Primary care professionals may be responsible for some of the monitoring of drug treatment. It is important that primary care professionals are aware of the child's psychiatric medication (interactions with other medicinal products, adverse effects etc.). All health care professionals should adopt a positive attitude towards psychopharmaceuticals in order to motivate the child and his/her family to comply with the treatment.