Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To present a critical overview of the literature published in the past 7 years on the efficacy and safety of psychoactive agents in mental retardation with associated psychiatric disorders, autistic disorder, Tourett's disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

METHOD:

Double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trials and open studies were reviewed and selected reports presented.

RESULTS:

The literature review reveals that progress has been made in the psychopharmacological treatment of the above conditions. This is partly because more studies use larger sample sizes and a narrower age range of diagnostically homogeneous patients and use a more sophisticated methodology than in previous years. Greater attention is being paid to a critical assessment of psychoactive agents and to their safety, to the efficacy as well as to the effectiveness of drugs. The 5-year National Plan for Research on Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders (1991) based on the Institute of Medicine Report (1989) already has had a significant impact on psychophamacology research.

CONCLUSIONS:

Advances in methodology, initiatives of the National Institute of Mental Health, and the advent of DSM-IV should continue to enhance research and improve pharmacotherapy in clinical practice.