A 13-item practice parameter on the use of psychotropic medication in
children and adolescents has been issued by the American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP).
The best practices, published as an article in the September Journal of
the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, were developed
by the AACAP Work Group on Quality Issues. The lead author was John Walkup,
M.D.
"The reason for the parameter was to ground prescribers of
psychotropic medication in the best-practice principles," Walkup said in
a statement released with the article. "This is not a standard-of-care
document and is not meant to reduce prescribing. Rather, it is a call for
action to create a systematic and comprehensive approach to using medications
in children safely and effectively."
The parameter outlines best practices for psychiatric and other medical
assessment, development of the treatment and monitoring plan, education of the
patient and family about the disorder and treatment, implementation of the
treatment plan, and management of medication-modification plans.
The parameter has 13 principles:
An abstract of the practice parameter is posted at<www.jaacap.com>.▪