ABSTRACT
This chapter will begin by challenging outdated views of pediatric mental health prescription, moving into an overview of the scope of pediatric psychopharmacology. It will then discuss the principles of psychotropic prescription with children and adolescents. The chapter will discuss diagnostic and conceptual issues in the prescriptive process, as well as outlining the ways in which a child’s goals differ from those of adults. It will explore parental power struggles over medication, and concomitant practical issues in child/adolescent prescription.
