Redefining Residential: Toward Rational Use of Psychotropic Medication

This is the eleventh in a series of papers issued by the Association of Children's Residential Centers (ACRC) regarding key issues faced by the field in response to emerging research, policy, and best practice. This paper builds on the previous papers in the Redefining Residential Series to address psychotropic medication use in residential treatment. Evidence for use of psychotropic medication with children and youth and the complications presented by youth typically served in residential centers are reviewed. Several critical practices residential programs should consider implementing are identified. Barriers to successful implementation are examined. A call is made for increased emphasis on what is described as rational use of psychotropic medications, prescribed in conjunction with other treatment modalities and careful monitoring of progress and outcomes.