When managing agitation in children and adolescents in hospital settings, you’re not just focusing on their immediate safety and that of those around them; you’re also trying to minimize the trauma that can occur in such high-stress environments. In this guide, we’ll walk through the core principles for handling these sensitive situations.

Vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial in adults with depression, but there is only minimal evidence in pediatric patients with mania. Reserve its use for those who have insufficiency, and have your patients take 1000–2000 IU daily.St. John’s wort can be considered an option for short-term treatment of mild depression in adults, but for kids the evidence is weaker.

St. John’s wort can be considered an option for short-term treatment of mild depression in adults, but for kids the evidence is weaker.

Very minimal data in pediatric patients. Consider using it for those patients with mild to moderate depression who are interested in using alternative therapies, or as an augmentation strategy in partial responders.

Very minimal data in pediatric patients. Consider using it for those patients with mild to moderate depression who are interested in using alternative therapies, or as an augmentation strategy in partial responders.

Based on the limited data available, the best use of omega-3 fatty acids (particularly 1–2 g with at least 60% EPA) is as an adjunct in the treatment of unipolar and bipolar depression.

Efficacy of NAC in a wide range of psychiatric disorders has been investigated.

Short-term melatonin treatment appears to have only a modest effect size in kids with insomnia. 

Magnesium supplementation may improve symptoms of ADHD or anxiety in children with a deficiency, but supporting or convincing evidence is lacking.

Though the data are not robust, folate supplementation might be effective for some kids with depression, but we recommend that patients try the cheap stuff (folic acid) before springing for Deplin (L-methylfolate).