To provide an overview of the use of psychotropic drugs in preschoolers.
Method:
Literature review.
Results:
Although controversy persists, the evidence suggests that preschool children are being given an increasing number of psychotropic drugs, especially by general practitioners and pediatricians.
Conclusion:
There is an urgent need to formally evaluate the efficacy of psychotropic medication for young children.
WerryJS. Long-term drug use in psychiatric disorders in children. Facts, controversies and the future. Acta Paedopsychiatrica1993;56:113–8.
2.
KutcherS.Practitioner review: The pharmacotherapy of adolescent depression. J Child Psychol Psychiatry1997;38:755–67.
3.
LeonardHLMarchJRicklerKCAllenAJ. Pharmacology of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in children and adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry1997;36:725–36.
4.
ZeanahCHBorisNWLarrieuJA. Infant development and developmental risk: A review of the past 10 years. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry1997;36:165–78.
5.
PeiperA.Quellen zur Kinderheilkunde. Bern: Huber; 1966.
6.
FishBCampbellMShapiroTFloydAJr. Comparison of trifluperidol, rrifluoperazine and chlorpromazine in preschool schizophrenic children: The value of less sedative antipsychotic agents. Current Therapeutic Research, Clinical & Experimental1969;11:589–95.
7.
SchleiferMWeissGCohenNElmanMCvejicHKrugerE.Hyperactivity in preschoolers and the effect of methylphenidate. Am J Orthopsychiatry1975;45:38–50.
8.
ShawDSKeenanKVondraJI. Developmental precursors of externalizing behavior: Ages 1 to 3. Dev Psychol1994;30:355–64.
9.
RichmanN.A double-blind drug trial of treatment in young children with waking problems. J Child Psychol Psychiat1985;26:591–8.
10.
HarmonRJRiggsPD. Clonidine for posttraumatic stress disorder in preschool children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry1996;35:1247–9.
11.
LeeBJ. Clinical experience with guanfacine in 2- and 3- year-old children with attention deficit disorder. Infant Mental Health Journal1997;18:300–5.
12.
GreenhillL.The use of psychotropic medications in preschoolers: Indications, safety, and efficacy. Can J Psychiatry1998;43:576–81.
13.
VitielloB.Pediatric psychopharmacology and the interaction between drugs and the developing brain. Can J Psychiatry1998;43:582–4.
14.
JensenP.Ethical and pragmatic issues in the use of psychotropic agents in young children. Can J Psychiatry1998;43:585–8.
15.
AdamsS.Prescribing of psychotropic drugs to children and adolescents. BMJ1991;302:217.
16.
TrottGEBaduraFWirthSFrieseHIHollman-WehrenBWarnkeA.Selbsteinschätzung des Verordnungsverhaltens bei Psychopharmaka an Kindern und Jugendlichen. Ergebnisse einer Befragung von niedergelassenen Ärzten. Psychiatrische Praxis1995;22:235–9.
17.
ShannonMLacouturePGRoaJWoolfA.Cocaine exposure among children seen at a pediatric hospital. Pediatrics1989;83:337–42.
18.
SchwartzRHPearyPMistrettaD.Intoxication of young children with marijuana: A form of amusement for ‘pot’-smoking teenage girls [letter]. American Journal of Diseases in Children1986;140:326.
19.
KopferschmittJMeyerPJaegerAMantzJMRoosM.Troubles du sommeil et consommation de médicaments psychotropes chez l'enfant de six ans. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique1992;40:467–71.
20.
Intercontinental Medical Statistics.The Canadian Disease and Therapeutic Index. Personal communication. 1998.
21.
RamsayM.Feeding disorder and failure to thrive. In: MindeK, editor. Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America. Infant psychiatry. Volume 4. Philadelphia (PA): WB Saunders Company; 1995. p 605–16.
22.
MindeKTidmarshL.The changing practices of an infant psychiatry program: The McGill experience. Infant Mental Health Journal1997;18:135–44.