From the Editor-in-Chief's Desk

A common criticism of psychiatric practice is that researchers are always on the hunt for the next big thing and that the experience of clinicians on the ground is rarely translated into better or more nuanced understanding of the treatments we do have. Since getting children and adolescents into studies has been historically difficult, too often we rely on our clinical experience while apologizing for the lack of solid scientific research in this population.

So I am pleased to report that this issue of the Journal focuses squarely on the kind of research that fills in the gaps in our knowledge of how pharmacological treatments apply to particular age groups, treatment histories, and demographics. These studies allow us to be more accurate in prescribing and in predicting outcomes and side effects in our young patients.

On the whole, these articles seek to broaden our understanding of the medications we now use and to examine their effects in more specific populations.

Wigal et al. take a detailed look at how stimulant-naïve children respond poorly to the prodrug LDX (Vyvanse), while patients who have already taken a course of psychostimulant medication experience fewer adverse events. And Günther et al. put the relative effectiveness of immediate-release and long-acting methylphenidate under the microscope, tracking their effects on distinct attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom groups throughout the day with intriguing results. These studies are bringing us closer to more personalized treatment that will mean a great deal to patients and their families.

Palli et al. make a broad investigation of trends in stimulant treatment persistence across formulations in a survey article that could lead us to smarter prescribing practices and better outcomes.

The work of de Hoogd et al. and Kryzhanovskaya et al. on atypical antipsychotics and weight gain is long overdue as we study the unfortunate side effects of these indispensable medications. And the Turkel et al. article on antipsychotic treatment of delirium in pediatric inpatients while evaluation and diagnosis progresses puts solid evidence behind a common and helpful practice.

Articles by Masi et al. and Dugan Stocks et al. try to answer practical questions familiar to any clinician—how do you treat co-morbid disorders when the pharmacological intervention for one doesn't necessarily mesh with the other? In this case, the authors address medication treatments for ADHD with co-morbid Tourette's, on the one hand, and serious disruptive behaviors, on the other.

And Saxena et al.'s work on diffusion tensor imaging of the corpus callosum in the bipolar brain further refines the science of imaging and moves us closer to the day when magnetic resonance imaging is useful clinically and indispensable in the development of new treatments.

This issue of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology exemplifies the scientific rigor and the willingness to address complicated questions that will push our field forward, and I thank all the contributors.