On Demand
The Problems with Medicating Children
Monday, January 07, 2008
There are more than 6 million American children taking powerful psychiatric drugs. Many of these children have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and they’re taking medications whose long-term side effects haven't been determined. This is the subject of PBS Frontline’s “The Medicated Child.” Will Cohen is the co-producer.
"The Medicated Child" premieres on Tuesday, January 8 at 9 pm.
Weigh in: Does your child have bipolar disorder? If so, do you medicate him or her?
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I was a psychology major in college, and spent my senior year interning at a residential psych. ward for children and adolescents. Most of the children, under the age of ten, were prescribed anti-psychotics, mood-stabilizers, medication for ADHD. It was very hard to understand why these young hcilren were taking these medications; i did not agree with it, or some of their diagnoses. Tothis day, i still stand by the DSM, that children are NOT bipolar, OR schizophrenic.
What about nutrition? What is wrong with MDs! These are poisons! THey are developing children!
wouldn't a case like jessica's bring up red flags about the parents? can you talk about the effects of the home situations and how children can develop this way?
When I was 5 I was proscribed ridilin and took the drug until I was in junior high. I have often wondered how the drug has affected my adult line of thinking.
I was a counselor for severely emotionally disturbed kids for five years in several different venues, from residential programs to public school main-streaming programs. There were definitely cases of drugs being poorly prescribed, most frequently ADHD. However, there were many instances where the drugs offered the kids a respite from their illness (a world full of self-doubt, paranoia, and pain) and an opportunity to integrate themselves into classrooms and gain valuable, healthy relationships.
I was diagnosed with Tourettes at the age of 5 and promptly put on Haldol, a very intense drug for an adult, let alone a child. The side affects quickly started and by the age of 10 I was on 8 pills. As young as I was I knew this wasn't right and simply refused to take drugs anymore. I have been drug free ever since and am 33 now, living a lovely life with Tourettes in it. Sometimes, isn't it just ok to have a disorder? Why do we always have to treat?
On a side note: my sister was diagnosed with OCD and my brother HDHD.
No other country on earth is doint this to millions of their children. It's functionally, the equivalent of sheer evil, though all the parties can lay claim to "good intentions".
The pharmaceutical industry is practicing a kind of chemical warfare against millions of children.
Yes, there may be a small prcentage of kids that truly do need, and benefit from, a chemical intervention...however, the vast majority of the time kids are being influenced by all manner of environmental psycho social "toxins" that drive to "misbehave".
Further; there is a natural type of kid who is genuinely creatively energetic and creative and who has a strong personality. In our "nurse Ratchet" culture the most unique creative smart energetic kids are seen as "the enemy" by all to many "educators" who just want passive compliant sheep to indoctrinate.
This is all about money for the drug industry and for shrinks who make a good living from messing with kids heads.
We will pay a very high price when these millions of kids grow up as brain/spirit damaged adults.
There's no substitute for a clean environment, good food and water, and patient loving parents and teachers.
I worry about a backlash against the use of meds in children. If you visit a parent's support group and listen to what we are going through with some of these kids, it really doesn't matter what name you give the behaviors - they need treatment. I thought long and hard before medicating my 10 year old after his diagnosis of bipolar, and I finally did it when I saw where his life was heading (and when I, frankly, couldn't stand him any more). He's a well-adjusted kid and good student now.
When my Bro was 6 or so they said he was "hyper-active"...and they wanted him to take ritalin...my parents said no way...he graduated suma cum laude with a degree in Psychology and later a law degree...he is a laser beam of thought w...had he taken madication he wouldn't have been the same person...
Surely common sense and decency tells us that if there is not conclusive research about the effects of these drugs on children, then it is wildly irresponsible to be prescribing them in the first place.
Sounds like corporate money and the lack of adequate resources dedicated to children are ruling the roost here?
It's ok to have a disorder, but..
Drugs should be a last resort, if the disorder is ruining the child's life- If the child can't function in school, family or social life.
My child, after a 45 minute session with a psychiatrist that the school coerced her to see, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I knew that the eval was not thorough enough, yet the school used that diagnosis to try to send my child to a day program like school. Further assessment was never offered. We did try many medications that ranged from minimally effective to downright harmful! Three years later, after withdrawing my child form that public school, 2 private schools and stints at homeschooling,my child was appropriately diagnosed with Asperger's. Her behavioral outbursts were due to sensory issues and the rigidity characteristic of autism spectrum. The original school district, in my opinion was negligent in not pursuing additional testing for learning disabilities, sensory integrative dysfunction and pragmatic speech defecits.
Happily, my child is now medication free and in a much more progressive school district. She is on the dean's list and has been recognized for outstanding artistic and musical talent.
The entire journey may have had a much sadder outcome had we not the education and the money to question the authority of the original school district.
Thanks for hearing our story
My child and my husband are bipolar. It's a complex thing going through the process of finding the right blend of solutions, including medications because diagnosis is largely made on how people react to medication. It takes a good Psychiatrist who has a flexible outlook, and patience. Our Psychiatrist see's both my husband and son together - in fact we all go to the appointment together as a family.
I resisted medicating my son till I finally gave in 2 years ago. He was 9 and had a Kindergarten reading level, while being extremely intelligent. He takes Straterra and Wellbutrin, I hate it in some ways, but he is flourishing and is able to read a lot better.
I am grateful that a Dr. even acknowledged that bipolar was a possibility. The medical establish has come a long way. And the stigmas have lifted a bit which is helping the solutions be more accessible.
We worked from the time our son was 9 until now - he's 14 - on his Explosive Behavior and Depression issues. He advanced from anti-seizure meds (he has occasional seizures) to depression meds to Risperdal. Several times he was taken off and his life was disastrous. Now we are committed to keeping him on the Risperdal- it's been 3 years so far. He has changed to an ambitious, driven, leader and good friend, as well as a well-mannered kid who knows how to handle his infrequent anger explosions. Whom to credit? A cautious psychiatrist, years of behavioral therapy, and terrific staffs at Gateway and The SUmmit school, schools for learning disabilities.
There is a metabolic condition that manifests in the same symptoms as bipolar and other behavioral/mental disorders, called 'pyroluria.' It is very easily treated by Vit. B-6 and zinc supplements. It seems to me that many of these children could easily have this disorder. The Pfeiffer Treatment Center in Naperville, IL has had a lot of success in treating this and other behavioral/mental problems in both children and adults, and offers services on both coasts.
Another factor that should be looked at is the effects of chemical/environmental toxins and pollution on developing fetuses...so we then need another set of chemicals to "rebalance" a damaged brain.
Bottom line: There are all manner of perverse incentives to "treat". It's, pretty much, all about the money.
As long as these meds are worth big money they will always be abused and over prescribed. If any one has ever witnessed the salespitch of pharmaceutical sales people, you'll see that it's very effective in persuading doctors to prescribe in a field that isn't clear cut.
Of course our culture has had an 'instant gratification' syndrome for generations, and that shallowness certainly makes us ripe for the picking.
Doctors should not use psychoactive drugs off-label on children, without safeguards
Perhaps a tax could be levied on drug companies to fund research on the use of psychoactive drugs on children.
I am a pediatrician in northern NJ. You need to understand that there are a lot of children with emotional and behavioral problems in the community - perhaps 5-10% who have problems that are significant enough to disrupt school and home life. There are not enough pediatric psychiatrists in this country to treat these children. In addition behavioral therapy involves a huge commitment of both time and money - things many parents don't have. Medical insurance doesn't pay (or pay enough) for these therapies. We MUST offer help for these children and medications are part of the treatment, though clearly not all. You can't just criticize the pharm companies if no one else (i.e., the feds) is willing to fund research. This is a very complicated problem and shouldn't be oversimplified.
I am interested to learn more about mental illness diagnosis in children in "inner city" communities and schools. Has the research discussed in today's episode carved out specific stories or metrics regarding minority or impoverished children with bipolar disorder and their opportunity to even receive a diagnosis and a treatment (medical or non-medical). Thank you for this shedding light on this illness, your work is invaluable.
Children need to first receive individual or family talk therapy before being diagnosed with the medicines. Unfortunately there is a severe shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists in the US. What are the incidence rates of childhood onset psychiatric disorders in other industrialized nations?
Is there any agendas by phamaceatical companies to encourage diagnosing pills first, rather than personal treatment from psychiatrists and doctors because as a foreigner it seems there is a culture of pushing pills rather that cognitive treatment. I've been on and off many treatments for 10 years to deal with my ADD/ depression. Everyone of these treatments had at least one significant negative side affect that would make me stop them and begin an alternative on offer. Male 30s.
Dr Stoller;
Yes, it's not "just" big pharma that is at fault.
On the other hand, "to a hammer, everything looks like a nail".
Pharma is a money making marketing machine; their job is not to heal humanity but to profit from sickness. Our whole culture suffers from the cumulative effects of perverse incentives across the board.
Sheer goodness, common sense and common human decency are seen as naive weaknesses by too many of the folks that are "in charge".
Yes, it's complicated; but, I dare say, for every child helped by these drugs (in the short term) I sense that there are five that are harmed/diminished in ways that we can't even measure now.
For general mental health awareness, do people have a recommendation on what NGO or public agency or private institution is doing the best on general education of the public?
There are a lot of obstacles out there to seeking care ($, insurance, choosing a doctor or therapist, knowledge about what therapy can do and can't do, knowledge about what drugs can do and can't do, stigma) that need to be tackled.
I'm looking to contribute time and money to this cause.
rgds, Bill
When she turned 12 my adopted daughter began to have daily uncontrollable rages that involved screaming and hitting and being destructive. She went from honor roll to C's and D's. I had to call the police a few times to my own house. Lots of therapy (behavior modification, family therapy) and medication have been the doorway out of hell for her and our family. I don't know whether there will be a longterm ill effect from medication, but life is lived in the short-term, which is where my daughter desperately needed help. She rarely goes into a rage now, her grades show some sign of improving, and I can trust her to behave appropriately in most social contexts. She's been able to bloom in drama and singing classes.
If you haven't lived it, don't criticize the use of meds.
I think the negative effects of the SIDS prevention "Back to Sleep" campaign is the root cause of much of this. In fact, I think the SIDS prevention "Back to Sleep" Campaign is the cause of the "autism epidemic."
Prior to 1993 over 70% of American infants slept on their stomachs, 13% slept on their sides and the rest slept on their backs. Since the "Back to Sleep" Campaign began in 1994 that has changed to 75% of American infants being put to sleep on their backs for their first 6 months of life. This has been shown to cause social skills delays at 6 months and motor skills delays at 6 months but these are considered "transient" by the medical community. Well, if they aren't transient in 1 out of every 150 kids then that sounds like an epidemic to me.
I hope people start asking questions about the safety of the "Back to Sleep" Campaign. I hope people start asking questions about it's actual effectiveness when you consider the decrease in maternal smoking and the Bowman and Hargrove SIDS reporting.
Here are two good articles:
"A reassessment of the Back to Sleep Campaign" by Ralph Pelligra
http://cgi.thescientificworld.co.uk/cgi-bin/processHtml.pl?Id=2005.03.71.html&format=Dreamweaver
"The Flip side of 'Back to Sleep' Campaign" by Phil Stevens
http://www.oandp.com/edge/issues/articles/2006-12_02.asp
We have a 7 year old son who was diagnosed with bipolar order here in the US. We went from our pediatrican to phsychologist to a neurologist. We felt helpless but we had the feeling that the doctors were helpless, too. Not even one doctor took more than 15 minutes. One neurologist even wanted to give him medication without talking to him or to us as a couple. I must say: we were shocked.
I went to Germany (where I am from) and the doctors there recommended no sugar at all, no TV if possible, a lot of physical activity and in addition occupational therapy. I was very sceptical, since I was told in the US only to put my son on medication would help.
This was 2 years ago. We tried to follow the guidelines from the German doctors and it helped. I do not want to say that the American doctors are bad and the German doctors are the better ones. That is not my intention. But
It makes me anxious and angry when I listen to these things. There are so many things which could help apart from pills. Especially with boys it is hard in these days and I think especially in this society. Everywhere you hear: no running, no screaming. Even on playgrounds. I mean: when if not on a playground a child can run, scream, jump or whatever???
No wonder they don't fit into a scheme or fall out of the one which does not fit. I really believe it is also problem of the society.
I *am* either Schizoaffective, Bipolar, or Schizophrenic. Diagnosis varies depending on who you ask.
I didn't show signs of any of this when younger.
Perhaps that's why I am ill now.
On the other hand, those children, with developing brains, haven't yet learned proper behavior, and the way they learn is behaving how they behave and learning from their mistakes. It's impossible to be 'mentally ill' when young, perhaps you can say 'mentally retarded' meaning they're developing slower than others, but not ill.
Medicating them takes that away their chance to learn.
What really bothering me about this interview was that the guest didn't really know anything about the culture of psychiatry its love affair with drugs. He did little or no analysis or research into the allegation that children need medication other than what he thought, through his own observation, was "obvious", or he let psychiatrists tell him how needed they were for children who had so-called severe dysfunctions. He only admitted, towards the end of the interview, that when family therapy is employed, there is much less "need" for drugs!! Why didn't he start out in the first place stating that drugs are used instead of counseling!! How could Leonard Lopate let him get away with this completely ridiculous presentation?
The interviewer didn't even bother to mention that there are many medical and non-medical people who abhor the use of drugs on kids, let alone adults and adolescents.
As someone who works in the Mental Health field, I feel that while medications are amazing tools and can work wonders, there has to be a point where doctors and families have to stop, step back, and look at the picture in front of them.
I saw the Frontline before listening to this show, and many of my comments here are coming from the show (do watch it free on pbs.org).
Seeing how the parents of some of these children just went to the psychiatrist, heard medicate, and did it made me wonder just how effective the doctors are doing their jobs. A psychiatrist is someone who is supposed to be trained in therapy. These non-university doctors didn't seem to do ANY therapy. Sure they talked to the family, but they did it as any GP does.
Non-medicine therapy works. Taking meds helps, but that is just one part of therapy. You need the social support and a psychologist/therapist who can listen and make you understand, stop, and question.
I have worked with children who range from being diagnosed as having Austism to Conduct Disorder. Children are developing, and as such they are active, they jump around. The cases of the children who are like the little girl are ones where intensive THERAPY and medications are needed, but the young boy followed in the show? If anything, I heard signs of asperger's, NOT bipolar. The psychiatrist did NOT do his job and the family was woefully undereducated.
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