Child and adolescent psychopharmacology. Important developmental issues.

This article begins with an overview of developmental variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and then discusses issues related to decision making before beginning treatment with medication, including diagnosis, impairment, and consent. Subsequently, specific disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mood disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, are briefly discussed, with focus on issues relevant to a developmental approach to pediatric psychopharmacology.