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A recent journal article, Pyschotropic Practice Patterns for Youth1, reported a large increase in the use of psychotropic medications, such as mood stablizers, antidepressants, and stimulants, in children from 1987 to 1996.
This is likely going to be disturbing to parents who are already against using these types of medicines in their children and people who think that children are being overmedicated.
Unfortunately, none of the reports or critics offer a good alternative to treat these children with mood and behavior problems. Instead, we hear about cutbacks to mental health programs because of budget cuts, and increasing limits on mental health benefits for children with insurance.
It is also important to look at the consequences of not treating children with psychiatric problems. It can't be good for a child to be failing at school because of ADHD, have problems making friends because he is depressed, or always gettomg in trouble because he is angry and aggressvie. Eventually, these problems, if untreated, might lead to further problems, including poor self esteem and worsening depression.
Another recent journal article, Does Stimulant Therapy of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Beget Later Substance Abuse?, helps to illustrate the problem. Instead of showing an increase in substance abuse for children on stimulants, like Ritalin, this study showed 'a reduction in the risk for subsequent drug and alcohol use disorders'2 for children who took stimulants. And that stimulants had 'protective effects' against future drug abuse for children with ADHD.
So, in the case of ADHD, this reports shows the consequences of not treating children, including an increased risk of later substance abuse.
References:
1Psychotropic Practice Patterns for Youth. A 10-Year Perspective. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. 2003; 157:17-25
2Timothy E. Wilens MD Does Stimulant Therapy of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Beget Later Substance Abuse? A Meta-analytic Review of the Literature. Pediatrics - 2003 Jan; 111(1); 179-185
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