Parent Guides for Understanding Treatment

• Medication Guide for Treating ADHD (2008) – Spanish version available
• Medication Guide for Treating Depression (2005) – Spanish version available
• Guide for Treating Oppositional Defiant Disorder (2009)

Facts for Families

• Psychiatric Medication for Children and Adolescents Part I: How Medications are Used (2004)
• Psychiatric Medication for Children and Adolescents Part II: Types of Medications (2004)
• Psychiatric Medications for Children and Adolescents Part III: Questions to Ask (2004)
• Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation (2005)
• Preventing and Managing Medication-Related Weight Gain (2008)

Click Here for a Full Listing of AACAP Facts for Families.

 Resource Centers

• Anxiety Disorders Resource Center (2009)
• Child and Adolescent Depression Resource Center (2009)
• Conduct Disorder Resource Center (2009)
• Disaster and Trauma Resource Center (2009)
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder Resource Center (2008)

RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Ethical Guidelines

• AACAP Code of Ethics (Updated 2009)
• Guidelines on Conflict of Interest for Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists (Updated 2009)
• Guidelines on Conflict of Interest for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Researchers (Updated 2009)
  

Policy/Position Statements

• Prescribing Psychoactive Medications for Children and Adolescents (2001)
• Restrictions on the Prescribing Practices of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists by Managed Care Formularies (1997)
• Evidence Based Practice (2006)
• Pharmaceutical Benefit Management and the Use of Psychotropic Medication for Children and Adolescents (2009)
• Presidential Statement:  Enhancing Transparency in Research (2007)
• Position Statement:  Oversight of Psychotropic Medication Use for Children in State Custody (2005)

Practice Parameters

AACAP has published over 30 Practice Parameters on various mental illnesses such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Language/Learning Disorders, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and many more.  The Practice Parameters are designed to assist clinicians in providing high quality assessment and treatment that is consistent with the best available scientific evidence and clinical consensus.

Practice Parameters describe generally accepted practices, but are not intended to define a standard of care, nor should they be deemed inclusive of all proper methods of care or exclusive of other legitimate methods of care directed at obtaining the desired results. 

Click here for a listing of all AACAP Practice Parameters. 

ADDITIONAL HELPFUL RESOURCES

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is the flagship journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and is the leading journal focusing exclusively on today's psychiatric research and treatment of the child and adolescent.  The Journal publishes peer-reviewed studies of diagnostic reliability and validity, psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological treatment efficacy, and mental health services effectiveness.  To search for information on specific psychiatric medications, please visit the Journal’s website.

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 

National Institute on Mental Health Booklet on Medications

The National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH) has developed an online medication booklet to assist mental health patients and families with understanding how and why medications may be used as part of their treatment for mental disorders.

NIMH - Online Medication Booklet