Pharmacotherapy of Aggression in Children and Adolescents: Efficacy and Effect Size

Introduction: The treatment of pediatric aggression often involves psychotropic agents. Despite growing research on pediatric psychopharmacology, however, clinical issues regarding medication management of persistent behavioral problems remain poorly addressed. Method: A review of the literature from 1980 to November, 2005 yielded 45 randomized, placebo-controlled trials that addressed the treatment of aggression as either a primary or secondary outcome variable. Effect sizes (ES) (Cohen’s d) were calculated for studies that met inclusion criteria. Results: Overall ES for psychotropic agents in treating aggression wa