Psychopharmacological principles

Abstract

It is important to understand that the use of psychopharmacology in the pediatric population is not necessarily the same as in adults. Child and adolescent psychiatrists will often say that children are “not just small adults,” and therefore the treatment choices and dosages may be similar or different to those used in adults. Additionally, we must acknowledge that data on the usage of psychotropic medications in children is limited, and many commonly used agents are not necessarily approved by national regulatory organizations for use in this population. Providers may, at times, use psychotropic medications “off-label” to target specific treatment needs of the patient while maintaining the standard of care.