This handbook focuses on the state of knowledge of child and adolescent psychiatry from a psychopharmaceutical perspective, providing practical guidance on the use of medication in these conditions. This is an evolving field and choosing the correct drug therapy can seem daunting. The understanding of a clear psychopharmaceutical model can make a logical choice much more straightforward.;The first chapter gives an overview of the mechanism of action and side effect profile of the various drugs available for treatment. The following chapters describe the key features of each psychiatric disorder emphasizing important factors that help in the diagnostic process. For each condition, important aetiological factors are highlighted and linked to the psychopharmacological treatment options. There are practical descriptions of the use of medications in the different conditions, including choice of medication, dose and duration of treatment and what to do if the patient fails to respond.