At a White House meeting today, the Academy emphasized the need for pediatric studies for all medications that will be used in children, including psychotropic drugs, and reiterated that all treatment for mental illness must begin with an accurate well-established diagnosis. Only about 25 percent of all prescription medications available in the United States are labeled for use in children. As a result, pediatricians must prescribe drugs based on information either from limited medical studies involving children or from other research, including extrapolating data from comprehensive clinical trials involving adults. The Food and Drug Administration has played a critical role in spurring additional pediatric studies, and with today's Administration announcement, a concentrated effort will be made to complete pediatric studies of psychotropic drugs.
Many children benefit tremendously from the appropriate use of psychotropic drugs.
It is important to remember that all treatment must begin with an accurate well-established diagnosis. Treatment of ADHD doesn't always have to be drugs, but in many cases, medications are at least a part of the treatment plan. The steps discussed today are definitely needed. The American Academy of Pediatrics looks forward to continuing the progress, including sending representatives to the fall White House conference on this issue.