Behavior-disordered and aggressive children: new advances in pharmacotherapy.

The status of children's psychopharmacology is reviewed in the context of differences from its adult counterpart. An overview is presented of recent psychopharmacological developments in the treatment of childhood behavioral disorders. The disorders are grouped according to the potential usefulness of medication. The focus is on clinical efficacy and safety of drug usage. The effect of psychoactive drugs on cognitive functions in the laboratory is referred to, as well as the value of determining drug levels in clinical practice. It is concluded that drug administration in isolation is not the treatment of choice. Drug therapy is a valuable adjunct, however, to psychosocial interventions.