Psychopharmacologic treatment in juvenile offenders

Abstract

This article first reviews ways to assess children in the justice system who may benefit from psychopharmacologic treatments. Second, it summarizes the emerging understanding of the nature of aggression and violence and the utility of using the schema of reactive ("hot") and proactive ("cold") aggression as a way to consider pharmacologic options. Third, it summarizes the current published studies on the treatment of conduct disorder, which roughly corresponds to the population of children in the juvenile justice system. Finally, it examines the ways that different classes of medications might be considered when approaching juvenile delinquents and the ways that psychopharmacology could be used as part of an overall treatment plan.