AN UPDATE ON PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL MEDICATION - WHAT TEACHERS, CLINICIAN, AND PARENTS NEED TO KNOW

Four major classes of medications are commonly used to treat children with learning or behavioral disorders: stimulant medications, antidepr essants or mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants. in a ddition, anxiolytics (e.g., Valium) and adrenergic agents (e.g., cloni dine) are occasionally used to treat some disorders. Research estimate s suggest that between 2% and 3% of all school children may be on one of these medications at any time. It has been further estimated that b etween 15% and 20% of children in special education may be receiving o ne or more of these drugs. This article discusses the potential uses a nd abuses of psychopharmacologic therapy with children or adolescents displaying learning, emotional, or behavioral disorders. it explores t he indications and contraindications of such therapy and enumerates th e known side effects of the most frequently prescribed medications.