• Daniel F Connor, Gabrielle A Carlson, Kiki D Chang, Peter T Daniolos, Reuven Ferziger, Robert L Findling, Janice G Hutchinson, Richard P Malone, Jeffrey M Halperin, Belinda Plattner, Robert M Post, Diane L Reynolds, Kenneth M Rogers, Kirti Saxena, Hans Steiner, and Stanford/Howard/AACAP Workgroup on Juvenile Impulsivity and Aggression.
• Department of Psychiatry/MC1410, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030-1410, USA. connor@psychiatry.uchc.edu
• J Clin Psychiatry. 2006 May 1; 67 (5): 808-20.

ObjectiveTo review prevention programs, psychosocial and psychopharmacologic treatments, and service delivery configurations for children and adolescents with maladaptive aggression. To propose a research agenda for disorders of aggression in child and adolescent psychiatry.Data SourcesRecent empirical studies were reviewed using searches of MEDLINE and PsycINFO (text terms: aggression, antisocial, violence, conduct, oppositional, psychosocial treatment, psychopharmacology, and prevention), relevant books, review articles, and bibliographies.Data ExtractionArticles met the following criteria: published in an English-language, peer-reviewed journal between 1980 and 2005, included a focus on individuals < 18 years old, and included an outcome measure of relevant significance.Study SelectionResults of 154 randomized, controlled psychosocial treatment trials, 20 controlled psychopharmacology studies, 4 open-label medication studies, and 2 psychopharmacology meta-analyses were reviewed.ResultsPrevention programs show promise for reducing future aggression in at-risk populations. Empirical support is available for the effectiveness of multifocused psychosocial treatments in reducing aggression in children and adolescents. Atypical antipsychotics, lithium, divalproex sodium, and stimulants for conduct problems associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have empirical support for reducing aggression in selected patient populations.ConclusionsTherapeutic nihilism in the treatment of aggressive children and adolescents with conduct problems is no longer warranted. Multifocused psychosocial interventions given early in life to at-risk children have the most support for effectiveness. However, treatments for children who routinely present to the child psychiatrist with already well-established disorders of aggression are neither robust nor well-established. Further research into maladaptive aggression in referred children and adolescents within and across psychiatric diagnoses is important for the field of child and adolescent psychiatry.

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