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Objectives: To summarize available knowledge about pharmacologic treatments that are used for first-onset (or early) psychosis in youths, with particular consideration of the prodromal stage and the effectiveness and safety of novel antipsychotic drugs and mood stabilizers.Method: A computerized search of medical databases (for example, Medline and Embase), a manual searching of articles and textbooks, and the use of vignettes to highlight treatment issues.Results: There are limited data about the effectiveness and safety of psychotropic agents for youths with psychosis and scarce information about the drug treatment of the prodromal stage of early psychosis in all age groups. The available data are encouraging, although the newer agents are not without safety concerns.Conclusions: Despite the paucity of studies, there is a range of psychotropics that may be used in the early stages of psychotic illness in youths. Drug choice is influenced by several factors, including the clinical picture, side effect profile, and patient preference. In certain situations, the decision may be not to use medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses issues related to deaf children in Australia. Incidence of deafness and the state of mental health services; Diagnosis of deafness; Effects of disordered communication; Discussion on psychiatric issues among deaf children; Problems with psychiatric service provisions.

Focuses on a study which explored the psychiatric and psychological issues associated with being deaf and hearing impaired among children from non-English speaking backgrounds in Australia. Demographics and definitions; Psychiatry and childhood deafness; Exploration of deafness in the context of the theory of mind; Analysis and discussion on two case studies.