More U.S. Kids On Anti-Psychotic Drugs

[OhioChick]

Source: AP

Study Says U.S. Kids Outpace U.K. Kids In Drugs' Usage

POSTED: 6:27 am EDT May 5, 2008
UPDATED: 6:42 am EDT May 5, 2008

CHICAGO -- American children take anti-psychotic medicines at about six times the rate of children in the United Kingdom, according to a comparison based on a new U.K. study.

Does it mean U.S. kids are being over-treated? Or that U.K. children are being under-treated?

Experts say that's almost beside the point, because use is rising on both sides of the Atlantic. And with scant long-term safety data, it's likely the drugs are being over-prescribed for both U.S. and U.K. children, research suggests.

Among the most commonly used drugs were those to treat autism and hyperactivity.

In the U.K. study, anti-psychotics were prescribed for 595 children at a rate of less than four per 10,000 children in 1992.

By 2005, 2,917 children were prescribed the drugs at a rate of seven per 10,000 -- a near-doubling, said lead author Fariz Rani, a researcher at the University of London's pharmacy school.

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/station/16159560/detail.html

[bemildred]

1. This is what comes of demanding that children act like adults.

Personally, I think drugging children is abuse.

[comtec]

3. In most cases I agree

But there ARE valid cases for behavioral drugs. Riddilin <sp> is a good medicine for kids that ACTUALLY have adhd, and not just over active, etc.

But in large, I agree, the casual drugging of our children will only make them worse adults, because they will never learn the (hard) way of dealing with things, with self control and discipline. They will think that pop a pill, suck a ciggy and everything will be fine.

no wonder the drug was is an epic failure, we're fucking teaching them!

[bemildred]

12. There are exceptions. When it's your first choice, it's wrong.

How can we get so worked up about kids experimenting with drugs, while at the same time pushing drugs to them ourselves to keep them out of our hair?

[Warpy]

5. While that is true in a few cases, these drugs can be lifesavers

in many cases, especially in kids with ADHD. To discount their effectiveness because kids in one's immediate area don't need them is shortsighted, ignorant and cruel.

When a kid asks for medicine in the morning, you know that medicine is changing that kid's life for the better, and ADHD kids ask for their medicine.

I advise parents whose kid has been sent home from school with a tentative diagnosis to take that kid to a pediatric psychologist or neurologist to get that diagnosis confirmed or ruled out. They can even do a trial of foods without artificial ingredients. However, if it comes down to drugs, those drugs can save a kid's life.

To suggest this treatable condition be neglected is abuse.

[Prophet 451]

6. Depends why

No question that anti-psychotics are overprescribed for all kinds of reasons but in some cases, the drugs are actually needed. I probably should have been on medication during my childhood and I definatly should have been on anti-depressents from when I started presenting symptoms in my early teens.

[CANDO]

10. If you haven't lived it, don't criticize it.

Do you know what it's like watching your child struggle through the first two years of school? Coming home hating school? Having her teacher call her behavior "appalling". A child who uses her desk as a piece of gymnastics equipment. All because of an inability to focus. My wife steadfastly refused to consider ADHD medication because of the stigma attached to it.(Notice your comments?) I finally said enough is enough. I can't let my child grow up owning the "bad kid" moniker. It is so heartbreaking to see how these kids with ADHD were just cast aside in the past as bad kids who just didn't want to fit in. I refused to allow my child to languish in perpetual hatred of school and not getting an education. We worked with her Pediatrician all through this and by the beginning of third grade he had seen enough and went through the whole check list of diagnosis and said we should do this for her. I want to tell you we have a child who has thrived in school ever since. She goes to school and is able to focus and functions as well as any other child in her class. The teachers are so happy and proud of her progress. It was an agonizing decision to make. It was not done quickly or without many sleepless nights wondering about possible long term affects. We have a child now that relishes the learning process. She gets mostly A's and B's and an occasional C. Perhaps there are people who get these prescriptions because of over active kids. It's not the case in our situation. It was a three year process and a mountain of stress coming to this place in time.

[bemildred]

13. I have 4 kids, I've seen plenty. nt

[CANDO]

15. Thanks for keeping it simple

You should feel blessed you didn't have any with ADHD. It is real. Not treating it is abuse. Would you do anything within your power to help your children get an education? And I'm not talking college. I mean the very basics. Those with ADHD struggle with the basics in education, imagine the future for kids who are left go or are blamed for their own inability to focus. Imagine what that does to their sense of self worth as they grow up. I hope I've been able to open your eyes to someone else's reality. Criticism does not help people deal with their problems. Understanding and compassion does.

[bemildred]

20. Bah! You don't know anything about me or my kids or what we went through. nt

[Name removed]

22. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CANDO]

32. Then instead of spouting off and looking to argue...

how about adding something of substance to the topic? My contempt for your act knows no bounds.

[tama]

24. Another brick in the wall n/t

[Ilsa]

28. I hear you! My oldest is autistic, and my youngest is ADD. I posted below. nt

[Megahurtz]

34. I totally agree. n/t

[stillcool]

2. I wonder if it has anything..

to do with a totally stressed out family..with both parents working, and the disappearing of family life.

[Dogtown]

4. Or maybe

it is due to large pharmaceutical companies pimping their products without regard for the safety of the public.

Despite the melodrama, republicans don't give a rat's ass about their trademark "family values"; that's just a trigger to stimulate salivation in their unevolved *faithful* followers.

Simple tricks for simple minds.

[Ilsa]

29. SAHMs and 40-hour a week dads also have kids with autism and ADHD.

I'm a nurse and a SAHM. My husband works long hours, but he goes in early so he can be home by 5:30 on most nights.

My suspicion is that ADHD and autism are genetic and also prompted by environmental assaults and pollution.

Also, if you interview family members, they usually recound some similar behaviors of another member of the family, but kids weren't diagnosed with these disabilities 20-40 years ago.

[moc]

7. I've seen this first hand. My sister's nephews on her husband's side

were put on seroquel at the ages of 4 and 6. Seroquel is a powerful anti-psychotic. My husband is therapist who specializes in child/adolescent, and he was horrified when he heard of this. He's met these two boys numerous times at family gatherings, and he has never observed any behavior suggestive of the need for such powerful medication. Rather, the home these boys are being raised in is extremely dysfunctional - their mother's idea of appropriate discipline is to lock them in a closet, to provide just one example.

My husband is not opposed to psychopharmecology for children who need it - many of his patients have serious psychological disorders, including psychosis, and these medications can be a life saver. However, he encounters numerous situations in his practice where these medications are not prescribed appropriately.

FWIW, the article cited is focused on anti-psychotics, of which Ritalin and other ADHD medications such as Concerta are not considered part of. There are over-prescription/inappropriate prescription of those medications as well, but I think that is a separate issue.

[Yurovsky]

8. 1 big problem I see...

is that the article does not clarify how the study authors defined "children". If you're looking at those under 12 versus those under 18, you'll find these drugs used for different purposes. Late teens and early 20s is the period in which most schizophrenic patients suffer their first break, and if you have a 17 year old who is having auditory illusions you would not want to deny treatment with the very drugs that might help him/her just because the health service says too many kids are on antipsychotics. Medicine is not a "one-size-fits-all" proposition, and clinicians need to have the ability to provide appropriate treatment regardless of political pressures or media hype.

I don't think every kid (or adult for that matter) should be medicated, but if it can help, trained health care professionals and family members should be able to access treatments that may benefit the patient. Blanket statements about too many kids being medicated don't really help individual patients. Certainly there are over medicated kids out their, just as there are under medicated kids who suffer from mental illness that is treatable (just don't try to convince Tom Cruise of that ...).

[happyslug]

37. True of Males, NOT females.

Schizophrenia appears in males in late teen and early 20s. Females it is about ten years later. Thus many female schizophrenic patients are found to have advance degrees, earned before schizophrenic patients set it i.e. earned in their early 20s, some with Doctorates, early by their late 20s, when schizophrenia sets in).

One think I have notice is the difference between males and females when it comes to psychiatric problems. For example, 90% of all split personalities are females, and the split first occurs early (Sometime preschool).

When it comes to ADHD, it is more male then female (Through one of my clients had a severe ADHD case with her daughter). The best way to view the situation is to send the child to school and fight any suggestion by the teachers to put your child on medication. Most teachers do NOT want to handle "difficult" students, but most pre-teen students are "difficult". You should compare your child with other children or his or her age group that (hopefully) you are familiar with i.e. the child's friends (and talk to the child's grandparents, they remember how BOTH parents were at that age). Moderate to slight problems are NOT to be handle by medications, but if it is severe then medications is the only alternative.

A lot of teachers ask parents to put the child on medication when the child is only a moderate problem. If that is the case, do NOT put the child on medication, look to make sure the child is having a sever problem.

Now I know the terms "severe" and "Moderate" are undefined (i.e. what I call Moderate someone may call severe), but it is the best I can do. Each case is different, you have to make a judgment call for you and the child's other parents are in the best position to make that call. Just remember this, if the child is doing decent in school (Not the best but not failing either) and goes to school with a minimum of problems, I believe medication should be avoided. On the other hand if the child is refusing to go to school, not like a normal child wanting to stay home, but to a degree higher, and after you discuss this with the child's doctor (as to alternatives i.e. having the child walk to school rather than ride a bus to school, even if a mile away), then go with the medication. I have seen client's children who have benefited from medication, but those are generally children the parents and the Doctor want the child on medication first NOT teachers.

My comments as to teachers is not that teachers can not handle problem children, but a lot of schools put pressure on teachers NOT to have any problem children, thus medication is pushed by the School more then the teachers (and that is to protect the school NOT the teachers).

In most cases when medication has been given to one of my Client's children, when the parents and Doctors agree it is never a problem. Such children benefit from such medication. My problem has been with Schools wanting the Child medicated to make the school's job easier, not what is best for the child.

One last comment. If you are applying for SSI for the child (Provided you are low income yourself), Social Security will NOT require medication for children psychiatric problems for, except for redilin, none have been ruled to be used for children psychiatric problems by the FDA. Also, unlike adult medication, if your doctor wants to prescribe Redilin to your child you can say no. The reason is Redilin has certain known side affects that if you do NOT want your child to endure, you can refuse the child taking Redilin (Adults who refuse to take medications are ruled not disabled if the medication would solve the medical problem). These side affects relate to the onset of puberty and how tall the child will grow during the child's growth spurt at that time. Given this problem, you can refuse to put your child on Redilin and Social Security must consider the child as he is NOT if he was on Redilin (again, if the child was an adult, the affects of the Medication would have to considered). It is the only time Social Security will NOT consider medical treatment in a case.

[ananda]

9. This is so harmful and crazy.

Those drugs are very very bad for kids,
for everybody really.

And there really is no such thing as ADD.

[CANDO]

11. Your comments are out of line

Do some research before you spout off and reveal your ignorance. Read my earlier post. You have no idea what you speak of if you've never had to deal with the prospect of your child's future ruined because he/she can't focus enough to gain an education. Not stepping in and getting help would be child abuse. Not at least getting your child to a Pediatric Psychologist to properly monitor your child is reprehensible and wrong. I've heard Lynn Samuels on Sirius Left make comments such as yours and it boils my blood at the sheer pompousness of such a statement as there is no such thing as ADD or ADHD. Get a clue.

[sudopod]

14. Y hallo thar Mr. Cruise! nt

[Mojorabbit]

17. You have no idea what

you are talking about. There is such a thing as ADD. Educate yourself.

[Ilsa]

30. You don't know what you are talking about. What are your credentials? nt

[kath]

31. There actually IS some legit concern as to whether ADHD is or is not a disease per se.

Thought I'd jump in and back you up a bit.

This is an important article, from a respected, peer-reviewed journal:

What Is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?
Lydia Furman, MD
J Child Neurol. 2005;20(12): 994-1003. ©2005 BC Decker, Inc.

Abstract
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is described as the most common neurobehavioral condition of childhood. We raise the concern that ADHD is not a disease per se but rather a group of symptoms representing a final common behavioral pathway for a gamut of emotional, psychological, and/or learning problems. Increasing numbers of children, especially boys, are diagnosed with ADHD and treated with stimulant medications according to a simplified approach. Methodical review of the literature, however, raised concerning issues. "Core" ADHD symptoms of inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsivity are not unique to ADHD. Rates of "comorbid" psychiatric and learning problems, including depression and anxiety, range from 12 to 60%, with significant symptom overlap with ADHD, difficulties in diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment methods that do not include stimulant medications. No neuropsychologic test result is pathognomic for ADHD, and structural and functional neuroimaging studies have not identified a unique etiology for ADHD. No genetic marker has been consistently identified, and heritability studies are confounded by familial environmental factors. The validity of the Conners' Rating Scale-Revised has been seriously questioned, and parent and teacher "ratings" of school children are frequently discrepant, suggesting that use of subjective informant data via scale or interview does not form an objective basis for diagnosis of ADHD. Empiric diagnostic trials of stimulant medication that produce a behavioral response have been shown not to distinguish between children with and without "ADHD." In summary, the working dogma that ADHD is a disease or neurobehavioral condition does not at this time hold up to scrutiny of evidence. Thorough evaluation of symptomatic children should be individualized, and include assessment of educational, psychologic, psychiatric, and family needs.


Professional organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, have issued consensus statements on the evaluation and treatment of ADHD, and most physicians accept ADHD as a diagnostic entity.<1-4> Many teachers and parents also readily apply this label to children in their care. ADHD is described as the "most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood."<1> Before we permit ourselves to ride this "tidal wave" of apparent agreement, it might be helpful to critically review underlying evidence and suppositions. What, really, is ADHD? Is ADHD a collection of symptoms, or is it a disease entity? Who is qualified to diagnose, evaluate, and treat these symptoms or this condition?

In summary, the prominent and often complete symptom overlap of ADHD with other psychopathology and the difficulties distinguishing ADHD from other pathology can be viewed as supporting the thesis that ADHD is not a distinct neurologic or psychologic disease entity. Instead, the symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity might represent a final common behavioral pathway for a gamut of emotional, psychologic, and/or learning problems. Clinical experience and case studies reveal that other problems, for example, occult mental retardation, hypervigilance owing to fear or stress, and ongoing or past abuse, can masquerade as ADHD.<8,102,103> The primary care provider without a specific mental health background is not trained to identify or diagnose most conditions considered "comorbid" with ADHD, and most do not have the time or experience to fully evaluate educational and psychiatric concerns. Stimulant medication is neither the primary nor the recommended treatment for each of these conditions, can actually be harmful in some (eg, major mood disorders), and does not treat the underlying problem in others (eg, anxiety, abuse).


In conclusion, after careful review of the evidence available, it is not obvious that ADHD is either a disease or a neurobehavioral condition. ADHD is a collection of symptoms, namely, inattention, impulsivity, and overactivity, that overlaps with other major and minor mental health conditions. No diagnostic test confirms the diagnosis of ADHD, and no investigative study has identified an etiology for ADHD. Screening tools and diagnostic criteria are not validated. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines encourage primary care providers to diagnose and treat this condition, few providers will be able to identify or appropriately manage the multiple and significant comorbid disorders associated with the core symptoms called ADHD. There are extraordinary societal and financial pressures that lead to the diagnosis of ADHD and the use of stimulant medications in school-aged children with behavioral difficulties. These include (1) inadequate availability and funding of both mental health services and educational testing resources, (2) a change in 1991 that led to the inclusion of ADHD as a reimbursable diagnosis for educational disability services under the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act, (3) a strong marketing effort by the pharmaceutical industry for use of stimulant medications (eg, the funding of Children with Attention Deficit Disorder , a parent support group for ADHD), and (4) economic pressures on families for both parents to work longer hours, leaving less time for approaches that require "talking therapy," making a "quick fix" involving medication and "med checks" more desirable.
Every child deserves to be cared for as an individual. Prudent and thoughtful evaluation of symptoms, including educational, psychiatric, or psychologic, and family assessment begin the process of understanding the individual child's difficulties and needs and of deciding which interventions will be most helpful to the child. Children deserve our "best shot" even in the face of resource scarcity, not a "one size fits all" approach. Certainly, many practitioners might disagree with this minority viewpoint, but the care of children can only benefit, one hopes, from transparent dialogue about challenging clinical problems.

http://www.icspp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=161&Itemid=72

[Megahurtz]

35. I totally agree. n/t

[burythehatchet]

16. I was going to post this article but decided not to because I find myself

amidst this emotional debate. My son's mom has put him on a medication. He is a beautiful spirit who danced a lot, has been known to be a very funny guy and has a level of emotional intelligence that I have rarely seen in a 9 year old child. But he has struggled in school.

Since he's been on the meds he is a completely different person. He is listless, he no longer jokes or laughs like he used to and I am completely devastated that his mother's need to make the child conform to societal norms in order to fit in outweighs the wonder that is his own true, unique personality.

Its a sign of our times. Broken families, environmental toxins, and whatever else is causing the development disabilities are ignored, in favor of medciating the child so he is "normal". It plain sucks.

[Mojorabbit]

18. Perhaps he needs to try

a different med. It took my nephew several tries before he found the right one and it has made an amazing difference in his life.

[CANDO]

23. If you are the child's father....

and have at least some custodial rights, go see the child's Pediatrician. Have him/her explain everything to you. Perhaps another med would work better. He may only need the meds during the school week. We only give my daughter hers on school days. It lasts for 8 -10 hours and is out of her system. She doesn't get them on weekends or over the summer.

[otherlander]

19. ADHD is *waaaaay* overdiagnosed.

Human beings aren't meant to sit in chairs for seven hours, they're meant to go outside and move around and socialize. And when healthy kids can't adapt themselves to an unhealthy, unnatural setup, they get called hyperactive and drugged.

[flashl]

21. Did you know?

- One of the original psychological researchers of RITALIN, Dr. Stephen Bruening, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychology and Research, was found guilty by the National Institute of Mental Health of faking his research, that he lost his university credentials, tenure, and position, went to federal prison and was fined $12,000.00?

Read More: Discussion Paper - Fraud and Misconduct the Betrayal of Science: Scientific

- November 18, 1998 NIH presentation by Peter R. Breggin, M.D.

First, the psychostimulants have a dramatic and often irreversible impact on the brain.
Second, even in carefully controlled clinical trials, 8 of which are reviewed in my paper, we know that serious ADRs--adverse drug reactions--occur at least at the rate of 8%
Third, we now know from animal studies that psychostimulants cause a persistent and probably at times irreversible weakening of heart muscle.
Fourth, psychostimulants inhibit growth, causing abnormally accelerated rebound growth when and if they are stopped
Fifth, psychostimulants commonly cause a wide variety of psychiatric symptoms, including apathy and depression, obsessive/compulsive disorder, insomnia, agitation, and in the extreme, mania

- Finally in 2007 FDA News

FDA Directs ADHD Drug Manufacturers to Notify Patients about Cardiovascular Adverse Events and Psychiatric Adverse Events. An FDA review of reports of serious cardiovascular adverse events in patients taking usual doses of ADHD products revealed reports of sudden death in patients with underlying serious heart problems or defects, and reports of stroke and heart attack in adults with certain risk factors.

Another FDA review of ADHD medicines revealed a slight increased risk (about 1 per 1,000) for drug-related psychiatric adverse events, such as hearing voices, becoming suspicious for no reason, or becoming manic, even in patients who did not have previous psychiatric problems.

[Megahurtz]

36. Hmmm, no other responses to your post?

Wake up people! :think:

[happyslug]

38. Social Society Regulations take account of the problems of Ritalin

Under Social Security Regulations you have the right to refuse to put your child on Ritalin, and that child is still eligible to be on SSI. Now SSI is for low income people, but it is $637 more for the family of the child, if the child meets the ADHD listing of Social Security Children disabilities or is substantially below children of the child own age.

This has been the rule since the late 1980s, mostly do to known side affects related to the onset of puberty (When children should be taken off Retilin, if possible). Sometime it is NOT possible for take the child off Retilin. The problem is the Retilin is still the only approved psychiatric medication for children. I know a lot of doctors prescribe other medications, but those are on an "Experimental" basis, a type of prescription any doctor can do for any medication if the doctor believes the medication will help a patient (The only restriction is Class V drugs, i.e. opium and other narcotics, the Government is more watchful if used for other then prescribe purposes).

My point is problem with Retilin are while known and have been known for at least 20 years, and ten years before the papers you site came out.

[Miss Carly]

25. children must behave and not act up

the teachers want obedient kids, the parents want obedient kids who won't bother them, the public wants obedient kids

I would have definitely been an ADHD kid had I been in school and the teachers even knew what it was back then :)

[curious one]

26. And how many adults?

[Ilsa]

27. My son's autism drugs have saved our lives.

Yes, he is on an anti-psychotic which helps him control his aggression, along with ABA therapy. His ADHD med helps him concentrate enough to know when he has to go to the bathroom. He was pooping in his pants 2-4 times a day without it. People don't know what that does to a parent. He couldn't learn much without his medicines, so they are saving his life also.

My second son is diagnosed with ADD, not ADHD. His one medicine helps him perform better in school on his work AND his social skills.

All the doctors I know are very careful about prescribing long term regimens for children. There are testing, interview, and scoring devices to help make the determination what could be needed. Schools also have personnel who specialize in providing testing for disabilities.

Also, the new non-pharmacological therapies (EEG-based measurements, etc) are not available in most areas unless you live in a city of about 250,000 or more, and we don't. They don't work right away, and for some kids, they may not work at all. They are expensive and not covered by insurance. It's easy to proclaim "I'll do anything to help my kid" but we also have to live in the real world where therapies (drugs or not) have to be paid for.

[Megahurtz]

33. Big Pharma is making a killing!

:think: