"Treating troubled children is more than symptom management for a calmer classroom: the medications seem actually to change the structure of the brain, helping it develop in what all evidence indicates is the right direction. More children in treatment should spell the beginnings of a healthier adult world."
The infamous Judith Warner, who wrote the Domestic Disturbances column and appeared to sway between medicating and not medicating children, has published a book.
The quote above is from ABIGAIL ZUGER, M.D., who reviewed the book for the NyTimes.
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I would like to know exactly what evidence Dr. Zuger has on file that shows the psychiatric drugs change the brain structure, and "helps" it develop. Should it read the other way around?
The medications have not been studied in long term studies to remotely know what the outcome is on a growing child's brain, and to state that "more children in treatment should spell the beginnings of a healhier adult world." is completely wreckless, yet typical in this discussion of the medicated child.
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AS for Judith Warner, Furious Seasons has many articles about the columnist, and you can read my invitation to Judith to have Thanksgiving Dinner with me as well.
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Judith Warner's book comes out with great timing, for a counter-balance view and new book from journalist, and award-winning science and history writer, Robert Whitaker:
Coming in April 2010
Anatomy of an Epidemic
Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America
Format: Hardcover, 416 pages
On Sale: April 13, 2010
Price: $26.00
ISBN: 978-0-307-45241-2 (0-307-45241-7)
"In this astonishing and startling book, award-winning science and history writer Robert Whitaker investigates a medical mystery: Why has the number of disabled mentally ill in the United States tripled over the past two decades? Every day, 1,100 adults and children are added to the government disability rolls because they have become newly disabled by mental illness, with this epidemic spreading most rapidly among our nation’s children. What is going on?
Anatomy of an Epidemic challenges readers to think through that question themselves. First, Whitaker investigates what is known today about the biological causes of mental disorders. Do psychiatric medications fix “chemical imbalances” in the brain, or do they, in fact, create them? Researchers spent decades studying that question, and by the late 1980s, they had their answer. Readers will be startled—and dismayed—to discover what was reported in the scientific journals."
AND
"In this compelling history, Whitaker also tells the personal stories of children and adults swept up in this epidemic. Finally, he reports on innovative programs of psychiatric care in Europe and the United States that are producing good long-term outcomes. Our nation has been hit by an epidemic of disabling mental illness, and yet, as Anatomy of an Epidemic reveals, the medical blueprints for curbing that epidemic have already been drawn up."
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5 comments:
I have to confess that I'm torn. The Breast Cancer "epidemic" of the 1980s was a spike in detection rates - clearly A Good Thing.
I don't know how much of the current diagnosis rate is that more people are coming forward - I'd think that a lot of it is an increased willingness to come out of the closet.
OTOH, it looks like there are a lot of boys diagnosed as ADD simply for being boys.
Yes, and Warner really jumped on the ADHD medicate the boys bandwagon, which Dawdy at Furious Seasons wrote quite a lot about, was the over-medicating of boys for their normal behavior, with psych meds that could cause possible permanent damage re: reproductive issues, breasts (Risperdal)and a host of other male related issues from psych med use.
Also, there has been recent discussions of whether or not the mammograms were in fact ever needed, in recent medical blog hub-bub.
I'm always going to toot the horn for not medicating children, with these drugs, too many have been harmed, possibly for no reason. That's the concern.
Hi Stephany,
I'm wondering why they have my son on 2 different antiseziure medication. I received a list of his copays. They have them on Dilantin and Divalproex. And they also have him on Zyprexa and omperazole. He was on warfarin for his blood clot, but I don't think he's on that now.
Barb
this drug interaction checker
is a good tool, where you can scroll and add drugs to a list to check for interactions.
I listed forms of the drugs that might be different than the ones he is taking (extended release etc).
BUT, the bottom line is there could be liver problems (and diabetes risk from Zyprexa)with divalprolex and Zyprexa together, and also, the anti seizure meds could be for mood regulation, the thing is, does that place have him on these meds for behavior control?
I don't think any of these meds are needed for the after effects of his brain tumor, the zyprexa has replaced the risperdal, both of those are antipsychotics, he didnt like the injections of long term risperdal, but it does come in pill form, I don't know what to think about them having him on all of those medications.
I know you have quite a drive, but wonder about having someone go with you and having an outside doctor review his case, because these medications probably make him feel pretty wiped out, and my daughter gained FAST weight on zyprexa, 100 lbs in a year.
I wish I could help more, but do use the drug digest dot org drug checker for any meds, it's a good resource. also rxlist dot com has a good resource for looking up meds and there side effects.
HUGS
Thanks Stephany, I am really concerned about this. I know the Zyprexa is to keep him grounded and less diffusional. I also know that he needs anti-seizure medicine, but 2 different types seems a bit much. I was thinking of talking to the nurses to get an update, and then maybe call his doctor.
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