Psychopharmacology in the Treatment of Conduct Disorder Children and Adolescents: Rationale, Prospects, and Ethics

Abstract

The rationale for psychopharmacological treatments of conduct disorder (CD) in children and adolescent is discussed with reference to the presumed neurophysiological basis of the disorder. Specific psychopharmacological treatments for children with CD are identified and briefly evaluated in terms of their empirical foundations. The lack of a secure knowledge base on the biochemical basis of CD and the efficacy of psychopharmacological treatments with children and adolescents suggests the need for caution in the wide use of pharmacotherapy with these populations. Psychopharmacological treatments with children and adolescents with CD are particularly indicated for reactive aggression, and CD with comordid conditions. Conceptual and methodological improvements in use of psychotropic medications with children and adolescents are discussed as well as the associated ethical considerations.

Reactive vs. proactive antisocial behavior: Differential correlates of child ADHD symptoms?

“…Yet, although the relation between ADHD symptoms and ASB in general has been well documented, little research has examined whether ADHD symptoms are specifically related to the reactive ASB subtype. Given that reactive ASB is hypothesized to respond to psychopharmacological intervention and anger management, whereas proactive ASB is hypothesized to respond to contingency management (Crick & Dodge, 1996;Day, Bream, & Pal, 1992;Mpofu, 2002), increased understanding of the relation between ADHD symptoms and ASB subtypes may ultimately lead to a better matching of problems to effective interventions for children who have both ADHD symptoms and ASB.…”