[Evidence-based treatment of acute psychotic episode and schizophrenia in children and adolescents].

Children and adolescents are a special group in the context of psychopharmacotherapy. Given the limited choice of registered antipsychotics permitted in childhood, caution should be exercised in the choice of medication. This literature review reviews the current evidence base for pharmacotherapy of acute psychotic episode and schizophrenia in children and adolescents. The results of major systematic reviews and meta-analyses are compared. Meta-analyses of pharmacotherapy studies of the first psychotic episode are considered separately. Antipsychotics of the first and second generation are comparable in effectiveness for children and adolescents with acute psychotic episode. Olanzapine demonstrates higher efficacy in reducing negative symptoms. Ziprasidone and asenapine are less effective in treating schizophrenia in children and adolescents than other antipsychotics. Compared to adults, children and adolescents are at higher risk of metabolic impairments when taking antipsychotics.