PHARMACOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL ASPECTS OF EFFICACY, SAFETY AND TOLERABILITY OF ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATION IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AND BIPOLAR DISORDERS

The treatment plan in child psychosis must be carefully managed. Despite of the increasing use of modem, second generation antipsychotics in paediatric patients, data on the efficacy, safety and tolerability of these drugs in the paediatric population are limited. The present research was performed between 2007 and 2015 and includes 90 children and adolescents with a diagnosis of psychosis - schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Our primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole compared with risperidone. The efficacy of the pharmacotherapy was evaluated through the mean change in the PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndromes Scale) total scores and the CGI-S (Clinical Global Impression of Severity) from baseline. Our results, showing statistically significant differences, prove the efficacy of the 2 atypical antipsychotics in the paediatric population. Especially aripiprazole showed a high efficacy and safety profile, risperidone being correlated with more adverse events. The present study represents a step forward, although further research was being needed. The paediatric psychiatry therapeutic protocols need to be properly adjusted and improved, in order to correspond to the real needs.