Recent NIMH Clinical Trials and Implications for Practice

 Psychopharmacology Perspectives aims to discuss practical approaches to everyday issues in pediatric pharmacotherapy. The discussions may address aspects of clinical care related to psychopharmacology for which we do not have adequate applicable controlled trials. Given the need to address symptoms in youths with often complex, severe, and comorbid disorders, recommendations are likely to be off-label from the perspective of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We fully appreciate that for virtually all disorders, medication is only one aspect of comprehensive care. This column focuses primarily on psychopharmacobgical management. Although it is important that clinicians address psychosocial issues in the evaluation and treatment of their patients, such discussion is beyond the specific scope of this feature. These are not meant to be practice guidelines, but rather examples of the thought process that may go into pharmacotherapy decision making.The opinions and assertions contained in this article are the private views of the author and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, or the National Institute of Mental Health.

PII: S0890-8567(08)60135-5

doi:10.1097/CHI.0b013e31818960a7

© 2008 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.