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The unmet needs in diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders in children and adolescents| Volume 49, ISSUE 12, P1082-1090, June 15, 2001

Mood disorders in children and adolescents: psychopharmacological treatment

  • Graham J Emslie
    Correspondence
    Address reprint requests to Graham J. Emslie, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center of Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-8589
    Affiliations
    Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
    Search for articles by this author
  • Taryn L Mayes
    Affiliations
    Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
    Search for articles by this author

      Abstract

      Mood disorders are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children and adolescence. As a result, many adolescents are treated with psychopharmacologic agents such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers. To date, research into the safety and efficacy of these medications has lagged behind clinical practice. Several controlled trials of antidepressants in this population have recently been completed or are ongoing, yet few controlled trials of mood stabilizers have been conducted. Although acute efficacy of antidepressants is being addressed, many questions remain about pharmacological treatment of early-onset mood disorders. This article will focus on unmet research needs for the psychopharmacologic treatment of child and adolescent mood disorders.

      Keywords

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