Children's Behavioral Problems are Skyrocketing
There has been a sharp national increase in antipsychotic treatment among children and adolescents in office-based practices. In a recent study conducted these drugs which by the way have not been tested on young children, are give out like candy in a store. Prescriptions are up, according to research sixfold since 1993. So are kids being given various behavioral drugs so that they are able to concentrate more or correct dangerous mood swings?
Take a child who has been diagnosed with ADD. I know many children on prescription medication. And the side affects in some kids are lack of sleep or too much sleep, loss of appetitie, headaches, stomach problems and so on until their system can tolerate the medication. What about Bi-Polar disorder? Just about every other child seems to be treated for this these days and the trend is becoming more and more dangerous.
Is it easier to take your child for "medication" to correct outbusts and bad behavior? Or are there other methods less invasive that your child could learn if you were able to spend more quality time with them? How about if you attempted to work with your child minus medication. In my opinion drugs should be the last resort. I worked at two children's hospitals one did not believe in medicating a child unless absolutely necessary, and the other medicated everyone who came through their shinny hallway doors.
The difference I saw with the first hospital was when the child, parents and professional came together as a team, the child was less likely to need the medication. And the end result: communication, suport and goals equaled a heathly productive child.
With the second hospital, I didn't see the same results. Only a child who would be dependent on a medication they probably didn't need in the first place, if only a game plan of direction would have been implemented.
Please, before you consider taking your child out by their ear and dragging them to a mental health provider for treatment, do some research.
Just because someone gives you a referral, don't call and make an appointment.
First, sit down with your child and explain what you are considering and why.
Next, interview mental health professionals first, prior to taking your child to them.
Ask about their belief's in prescribing medication for children.
Find out how long they have been in practice; what school they attended; what continuting education they receive; what advisory boards do they sit on if any; do they have children of their own?
In this months JAMA:
The surveys also covered six broad, diagnostic categories.
--Disruptive behavior disorders, which include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) -- accounted for the biggest share of the antipsychotic treatments noted in the survey (nearly 38 percent).
--Mood disorders, including bipolar disorder and depression -- came in second, accounting for about 32 percent of the antipsychotic treatments noted in the survey.
--Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia -- accounted for 14 percent of the antipsychotic treatments seen in the survey.
The rest of the antipsychotic treatments were linked to pervasive developmental disorders or mental retardation.
“In addition, approximately one-third of antipsychotic visits included co-prescription of an antidepressant medication and one-third included co-prescription of a mood stabilizer, the researchers write. They note “a dearth of empirical evidence to support these prescribing patterns.”
Study’s Limits
The data used in Olfson’s study focused on office visits, not patients. It’s not known if some patients were counted more than once due to multiple office visits.
Doses and length of treatment with antipsychotic medicines weren’t covered, either. Nor were side effects or effectiveness.
Still, the researchers write that “in recent years, second-generation antipsychotic medications have become common in the office-based mental health treatment of young people.”
What accounts for that trend? Olfson’s study doesn’t answer that question. Reasons might include limited opportunities for inpatient care and improvements over earlier antipsychotic drugs, note Olfson and colleagues.
More Research Needed
Second-generation antipsychotic drugs “may be effective for treatment of a variety of different child and adolescent mental disorders,” the researchers write.
But they also mention “tension” between medication patterns and scientific data when it comes to kids’ antipsychotic use.
“In light of the growing and widespread use of these medications, there is a pressing need to increase and extend the experimental evaluation of these medications in children and adolescents,” write Olfson and colleagues.
