Comments on: Psychotropics and Youth, Part 1 – The Five Myths http://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/ Topics from multidimensional biopsychosocial perspectives Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:27:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: steffenhttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/#comment-600398 steffen Wed, 12 May 2010 13:21:32 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3814#comment-600398 Really good and informative article, because I am young too, and this can be like a warning for me,, Really good and informative article, because I am young too, and this can be like a warning for me,,

]]> By: Andrei Rotariuhttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/#comment-600170 Andrei Rotariu Mon, 03 May 2010 10:43:55 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3814#comment-600170 Children should not be prescibed drugs for 'depression' FULL STOP! No one should be prescribed drugs for 'depression', people need to get counselled and helped not pilled up and addicted, im so sick of mecical capitalism! Children should not be prescibed drugs for ‘depression’ FULL STOP! No one should be prescribed drugs for ‘depression’, people need to get counselled and helped not pilled up and addicted, im so sick of mecical capitalism!

]]> By: Anthony Khttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/#comment-600095 Anthony K Sat, 01 May 2010 22:11:59 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3814#comment-600095 Hi, commented on another post on this blog and saw this one. I used to work with very difficult and disturbed boys un a special school. I did that for 17 years, and saw the gradual introduction of the likes of Ritalin (though even then, the percentage who took them was quite low (I think British doctors are reluctant to prescribe). My observation was that, well, it seemed to make little difference! Most boys were unmedicated and some of them were aggressive and "hypoeractive", so were the ones on Ritalin. Sometimes you could tell from their behaviour that they hadn't had their pills that day, and maybe they were worse without, but I ended up being unconvinced either way. Whatever their behaviour, we had to deal with it gently and sympathetically: the pills didn't seem like a magic bullet to me. I would say, though, that I think that the children should have the chance to try them: if they do feel better for it, and their family are better able to cope, then good. (As for me, I didn't care too much: I always felt I had to deal with the child, not the behaviours.)One boy, I remember, who was very witty and clever and who really did seem much worse when he hadn't had his meds, was walking down the street of his little rural village when he saw the drapess of one of the houses twitch. He became angrier and angrier. "The woman who lives there," he thought to himself, "just saw me walking past and she thought I was about to go in and vandalise her garden! How dare she make that assumption about me! I'll show her!" So he opened the gate, walked up the path, and vandalised her garden.Hey, let's give kids the chance to take pills if it helps them - and <em>if</em> it helps us too, so much the better! Hi, commented on another post on this blog and saw this one. I used to work with very difficult and disturbed boys un a special school. I did that for 17 years, and saw the gradual introduction of the likes of Ritalin (though even then, the percentage who took them was quite low (I think British doctors are reluctant to prescribe). My observation was that, well, it seemed to make little difference! Most boys were unmedicated and some of them were aggressive and “hypoeractive”, so were the ones on Ritalin. Sometimes you could tell from their behaviour that they hadn’t had their pills that day, and maybe they were worse without, but I ended up being unconvinced either way. Whatever their behaviour, we had to deal with it gently and sympathetically: the pills didn’t seem like a magic bullet to me.
I would say, though, that I think that the children should have the chance to try them: if they do feel better for it, and their family are better able to cope, then good. (As for me, I didn’t care too much: I always felt I had to deal with the child, not the behaviours.)

One boy, I remember, who was very witty and clever and who really did seem much worse when he hadn’t had his meds, was walking down the street of his little rural village when he saw the drapess of one of the houses twitch. He became angrier and angrier. “The woman who lives there,” he thought to himself, “just saw me walking past and she thought I was about to go in and vandalise her garden! How dare she make that assumption about me! I’ll show her!”
So he opened the gate, walked up the path, and vandalised her garden.

Hey, let’s give kids the chance to take pills if it helps them – and if it helps us too, so much the better!

]]> By: Psychotropics and Youth, Part 2 – The Solutions | Brain Bloggerhttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/#comment-598358 Psychotropics and Youth, Part 2 – The Solutions | Brain Blogger Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:06:16 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3814#comment-598358 [...] first post delineated the five erroneous myths often adhered to when prescribing youth’s psychotropic medication. Here are the three areas of [...] [...] first post delineated the five erroneous myths often adhered to when prescribing youth’s psychotropic medication. Here are the three areas of [...]

]]> By: FakePlasticTree » ????????????????http://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/#comment-598159 FakePlasticTree » ???????????????? Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:39:16 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3814#comment-598159 [...] 2010 ? 3 ? 10 ? ???? ???????? ???? Psychotropics and Youth, Part 1 – The Five Myths | Brain Blogger 1) Children are little adults. During adolescence, the brain changes rapidly. As a result, [...] [...] 2010 ? 3 ? 10 ? ???? ???????? ???? Psychotropics and Youth, Part 1 – The Five Myths | Brain Blogger 1) Children are little adults. During adolescence, the brain changes rapidly. As a result, [...]

]]> By: Psychotropics and Youth, Part 3 – Equip Teachers with Prescription Pads? | Brain Bloggerhttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/#comment-598154 Psychotropics and Youth, Part 3 – Equip Teachers with Prescription Pads? | Brain Blogger Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:48:00 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3814#comment-598154 [...] CommentsContentious debate is brewing over the large role educators play role in recommending what students receive psychotropics, even though they have limited knowledge of treatment. Consider the standards by which one teacher [...] [...] CommentsContentious debate is brewing over the large role educators play role in recommending what students receive psychotropics, even though they have limited knowledge of treatment. Consider the standards by which one teacher [...]

]]> By: Wednesday Round Up #105 « Neuroanthropologyhttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/#comment-598126 Wednesday Round Up #105 « Neuroanthropology Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:01:56 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3814#comment-598126 [...] Sherman, Psychotropics and Youth, Part 1 – The Five Myths The dramatic rise in prescriptions of psychotropics for children and young adults has alarmed [...] [...] Sherman, Psychotropics and Youth, Part 1 – The Five Myths The dramatic rise in prescriptions of psychotropics for children and young adults has alarmed [...]

]]> By: Jean Claude Ghttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/#comment-598102 Jean Claude G Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:24:48 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3814#comment-598102 Bravo, bravo! I'm out of words trying to describe how I feel reading you! Brilliant, courageous, "about time someone steps up for our youth", comforting, and a whole bunch of other things come to mind I can barely describe.The good side of this tragedy is that maybe our children will save us in the end. Our future is at stake.By bringing into question all of these issues, I think we can really make giant steps in the way we consider, and more importantly, how we treat all who suffer mental, emotional and behavioral problems.Eagerly looking forward to read the rest. Bravo, bravo!
I’m out of words trying to describe how I feel reading you!
Brilliant, courageous, “about time someone steps up for our youth”, comforting, and a whole bunch of other things come to mind I can barely describe.

The good side of this tragedy is that maybe our children will save us in the end. Our future is at stake.

By bringing into question all of these issues, I think we can really make giant steps in the way we consider, and more importantly, how we treat all who suffer mental, emotional and behavioral problems.

Eagerly looking forward to read the rest.

]]> By: Bill Whitehttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/#comment-598039 Bill White Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:22:21 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3814#comment-598039 Well, I deal primarily with unfunded and Medicaid patients. And I've seen it in that arena. But I've also seen it with the PPO/HMO set. I can't make a firm statement re socioeconomic factors, but I can say that all in all the quickest fix seems to be too readily accepted. Well, I deal primarily with unfunded and Medicaid patients. And I’ve seen it in that arena. But I’ve also seen it with the PPO/HMO set. I can’t make a firm statement re socioeconomic factors, but I can say that all in all the quickest fix seems to be too readily accepted.

]]> By: Courtney Shermanhttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/#comment-598037 Courtney Sherman Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:40:55 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3814#comment-598037 My pleasure Emily.Bill: Regarding Abilify, in your professional contact with patients in the ER and elsewhere, do you see any trends so far in terms of the demographics of the kids prescribed this medication; i.e., socioeconomic status, ethnicity, etc.? There are stories behind numbers that can often illuminate larger issues at play here. Very interesting and possibly troubling. My pleasure Emily.

Bill: Regarding Abilify, in your professional contact with patients in the ER and elsewhere, do you see any trends so far in terms of the demographics of the kids prescribed this medication; i.e., socioeconomic status, ethnicity, etc.? There are stories behind numbers that can often illuminate larger issues at play here. Very interesting and possibly troubling.

]]> By: The 5 Myths of psychotropic drugs and kids « Medical Skeptichttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/#comment-598029 The 5 Myths of psychotropic drugs and kids « Medical Skeptic Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:22:29 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3814#comment-598029 [...] February 13, 2010 | By Courtney Sherman, BA | Share / Save / Email / Bookmark | 12 Comments [...] [...] February 13, 2010 | By Courtney Sherman, BA | Share / Save / Email / Bookmark | 12 Comments [...]

]]> By: Emilyhttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/#comment-598026 Emily Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:02:27 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3814#comment-598026 Thank you so much for this post. As a mental health care provider for both adults and children, it is so important to know the differences. Although I do not prescribe medications, it is still so important for me and the readers of my blog about children's mental health to be very aware of these differences. Thank you so much for this post. As a mental health care provider for both adults and children, it is so important to know the differences. Although I do not prescribe medications, it is still so important for me and the readers of my blog about children’s mental health to be very aware of these differences.

]]> By: Bill Whitehttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/#comment-598025 Bill White Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:01:25 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3814#comment-598025 You know, as a side note, and I was going to mention this a few days ago. How 'bout it? Five-year-olds on Abilify. I've seen it several times. Now, I'm 55 years old...and I can't help but wonder what happened to kids back when I was a boy who had issues that now warrant atypicals (in fact, I was probably one of them). Hmmm. I'm telling you, our society has become way too reliant upon the quick-fixes. And, of course, these "fixes" more often than not lead to the "necessity" of more quick fixes (you think pharma knows that???). In so many ways we've lost our connection with our children...we simply don't take care of them. Instead, we're all too often about mobility, convenience,and the material. You know, as a side note, and I was going to mention this a few days ago. How ’bout it? Five-year-olds on Abilify. I’ve seen it several times. Now, I’m 55 years old…and I can’t help but wonder what happened to kids back when I was a boy who had issues that now warrant atypicals (in fact, I was probably one of them). Hmmm. I’m telling you, our society has become way too reliant upon the quick-fixes. And, of course, these “fixes” more often than not lead to the “necessity” of more quick fixes (you think pharma knows that???). In so many ways we’ve lost our connection with our children…we simply don’t take care of them. Instead, we’re all too often about mobility, convenience,and the material.

]]> By: Courtney Shermanhttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/#comment-598023 Courtney Sherman Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:28:10 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3814#comment-598023 I agree wholeheartedly with David and Bill. The topic of Psychotropics & Youth has really just begun. I foresee a discussion on ethics, public education policy and legal issues pertaining to youth making its way into the public mainstream soon. Really catching fire. Clearly, it certainly has in this forum. Thanks everyone for the insightful comments. I agree wholeheartedly with David and Bill. The topic of Psychotropics & Youth has really just begun. I foresee a discussion on ethics, public education policy and legal issues pertaining to youth making its way into the public mainstream soon. Really catching fire. Clearly, it certainly has in this forum. Thanks everyone for the insightful comments.

]]> By: Bill Whitehttp://brainblogger.com/2010/02/13/psychotropics-and-youth-part-1-the-five-myths/#comment-598017 Bill White Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:37:40 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=3814#comment-598017 Thanks David. Never a dull moment! Thanks David. Never a dull moment!

]]>