Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Review of Current Evidence

Conclusion and Summary Multiple treatments exist for the treatment of alcohol use disorders in adolescents. Current literature and evidence focuses mainly on adult populations. Clinical trials investigating pharmacologic treatment of alcohol use disorders in children and adolescents are limited. When discussing treatment with an adolescent who suffers from a substance use disorder, it is important to discuss risks and benefits of pharmacotherapy and also explain to the patient and family that these medications have been primarily studied in adult populations. Family therapy may be particularly important when treating adolescents with substance use disorders and addressing comorbid psychiatric conditions also yields better outcomes. Sarah B. Johnson, M.D., M.Sc., University of Louisville Department of Psychiatry, 401 E. Chestnut St., Ste. 610, Louisville, KY 40202. E-mail: sarah. johnson@louisville.edu.