Psychopharmacology in children and adolescents: unmet needs and opportunities

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Samuele Cortese - , University of Southampton, Solent NHS Trust, New York University, University of Nottingham, University of Bari (Author)
  • Diane Purper-Ouakil - , CHU Montpellier, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (Author)
  • Alan Apter - , Schneider Childrens Medical Center Israel, Reichman University (Author)
  • Celso Arango - , Complutense University (Author)
  • Inmaculada Baeza - , University of Barcelona (Author)
  • Tobias Banaschewski - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Jan Buitelaar - , Radboud University Nijmegen, Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Centre (Author)
  • Josefina Castro-Fornieles - , University of Barcelona (Author)
  • David Coghill - , University of Melbourne, Murdoch Children's Research Institute (Author)
  • David Cohen - , Sorbonne Université (Author)
  • Christoph U. Correll - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell Health System (Author)
  • Edna Grünblatt - , University of Zurich, ETH Zurich (Author)
  • Pieter J. Hoekstra - , University of Groningen (Author)
  • Anthony James - , University of Oxford, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (Author)
  • Pia Jeppesen - , University of Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark (Author)
  • Péter Nagy - , Bethesda Children's Hospital (Author)
  • Anne Katrine Pagsberg - , University of Copenhagen (Author)
  • Mara Parellada - , Complutense University (Author)
  • Antonio M. Persico - , University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Author)
  • Veit Roessner - , Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Author)
  • Paramala Santosh - , King's College London (KCL), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (Author)
  • Emily Simonoff - , King's College London (KCL), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (Author)
  • Dejan Stevanovic - , Clinic for Neurology and Psychiatry for Children and Youth Belgrade, University of Gothenburg (Author)
  • Argyris Stringaris - , University College London, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Author)
  • Benedetto Vitiello - , University of Turin (Author)
  • Susanne Walitza - , University of Zurich, ETH Zurich (Author)
  • Abraham Weizman - , Tel Aviv University (Author)
  • Ian C.K. Wong - , University College London, The University of Hong Kong, Aston University (Author)
  • Gil Zalsman - , Tel Aviv University, Columbia University (Author)
  • Alessandro Zuddas - , University of Cagliari (Author)
  • Sara Carucci - , University of Cagliari (Author)
  • Florence Butlen-Ducuing - , European Medicines Agency (Author)
  • Maria Tome - , European Medicines Agency (Author)
  • Myriam Bea - , ADHD Germany (Author)
  • Christine Getin - , Hypersupers TDAH France (Author)
  • Nina Hovén - , ADHD Europe (Author)
  • Asa Konradsson-Geuken - , Uppsala University, European Federation of Associations of Families of People with Mental Illness (EUFAMI) (Author)
  • Daphne Lamirell - , Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Networks-Europe (GAMIAN Europe) (Author)
  • Nigel Olisa - , Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Networks-Europe (GAMIAN Europe) (Author)
  • Begonya Nafria Escalera - , Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona (Author)
  • Carmen Moreno - , Complutense University (Author)

Abstract

Psychopharmacological treatment is an important component of the multimodal intervention approach to treating mental health conditions in children and adolescents. Currently, there are many unmet needs but also opportunities, alongside possible risks to consider, regarding the pharmacological treatment of mental health conditions in children and adolescents. In this Position Paper, we highlight and address these unmet needs and opportunities, including the perspectives of clinicians and researchers from the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology–Child and Adolescent Network, alongside those of experts by lived experience from national and international associations, via a survey involving 644 participants from 13 countries, and of regulators, through representation from the European Medicines Agency. We present and discuss the evidence base for medications currently used for mental disorders in children and adolescents, medications in the pipeline, opportunities in the development of novel medications, crucial priorities for the conduct of future clinical studies, challenges and opportunities in terms of the regulatory and legislative framework, and innovations in the way research is conducted, reported, and promoted.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)143 - 154
Number of pages12
JournalThe Lancet Psychiatry
Volume11
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 38071998

Keywords