Psychiatria pre prax 4/2004

Pharmacotherapy of affective disorders in childhood and adolescence

An overview article deals with depressive disorder and bipolar affective disorder in paedopsychiatry. A brief summary of specific features of both of the diagnoses in childhood and adolescence is given. Furthermore, it presents a review of clinical studies and experience in treatment with antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics. SSRI´s are the most frequently used drug group among antidepressants. In the group of mood stabilizers the largest number of findings concern lithium. Also carbamazepine and valproate are beeing used. Only a few studies of a limited size are available in antipsychotics – they have dealt with risperidone, olanzapine, and clozapine.

Keywords: depressive disorder, bipolar affective disorder, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics.