Mental Health Medications for Children

“Ron Brown has done it again! This helpful text presents succinct information regarding medications frequently prescribed to the pediatric population. It is an excellent reference for the busy school practitioner who provides instruction, counseling, or support services to children receiving psychotropic medications. The authors promote interdisciplinary collaboration and stress the importance of school personnel participating actively in treatment planning and monitoring. I heartily recommend this book to teachers, school counselors, school administrators, and all others who interact to ensure the successful psychoeducational development of youth who require psychotropic interventions.”

—LeAdelle Phelps, PhD, School Psychology Program, University at Buffalo, State University of New York.


“Once again, Dr. Brown and his colleagues take a complex topic and make it appear simple without being simplistic. This book is an essential addition to the resource shelf in every school. The authors do an admirable job of sharing critical information about medication and explaining how school personnel interface with children, parents, and mental health treatment providers in regard to medication use. Myths about medication are dispelled, figures and tables summarize pertinent facts, and case examples illuminate the myriad issues involved. Sensitive, thorough, and pragmatic.”

—Mary A. Fristad, PhD, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The Ohio State University


“This impressive new book is a 'must-have' resource for school professionals and professionals-in-training, and would be of substantial benefit to psychologists and physicians who interface with schools in the treatment of child psychiatric disorders. In addition to providing a wealth of information on psychotropic medications and their use with children, it emphasizes the role of school professionals on the treatment team and offers practical strategies to facilitate a team approach. Written in a clear and understandable style, this book is comprehensive, empirically solid, and highly practical. In one reader-friendly volume, the authors provide substantial information about psychotropic medications for children, emphasize teamwork, and promote safe and effective practice.”

—Cheryl A. King, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School


“This book is well written and well informed. Dr. Brown and colleagues take a very complex subject and simplify it for an audience of nonmedical, nonpharmacist professionals. It is not easy to accomplish such a task and retain a truly representative picture of current practice. I will recommend this book to my nonmedical colleagues who work with children.”

—James Beeghly, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics


“An outstanding and very much-needed resource for school professionals. As the number of youngsters on psychoactive medication continues to rise, school psychologists, teachers, nurses, and administrators play an ever more prominent role as members of child mental health treatment teams. This book provides an excellent and up-to-date overview of child psychiatric problems and associated medication strategies, including clear guidelines for how school personnel can most effectively contribute to the mental health treatment of their students. Written in an easily understandable and user-friendly style, this is essential reading for those working in both regular and special education settings, as well as for those still in training.”

—John Piacentini, PhD, Child OCD, Anxiety, and Tic Disorders Program, University of California, Los Angeles