Children and Psychiatric Drugs

Psychosocial issues such as anxiety and depression can contribute to medical problems, substance abuse, and a life of crime. If psychosocial issues are not treated, they may affect the child health and wellness. It is very important for the child to learn ways to cope with these issues to be able to live a healthy and fulfilled life. Anxiety and depression can cause a child to withdraw from society and have problems trusting people. Children and adolescents with psychosocial problems often lead a destructive lifestyle. These children and adolescents are at risk for becoming alcoholics and committing crimes as teenagers and/or adults (James,

As a result, wrong diagnosis especially if the assessment taken/given has been falsely understood which can only lead to treatment programs that will likely fail as the assessment and the diagnosis were both problematic. For example: in the treatment involving counseling of minors (children or adolescents), may become complicated and risk for potential risk for improper assessment, diagnosis and or treatment. Given the age and cognitive development of the client, would bring some confusion of what is being communicated, what needs to happen during the process of therapy, what has to be done, what he or she (client or patient), has to do and what can be expected of both sides, from counselor and client. Some of these ethical and/or legal issues specifically pertaining to minors include: (1) confidentiality, (2) informed consent, (3) Parental consent, and (4) privileged

The dangers and possible harmful effects that these medications hold for a young child will not help the parents feel too convinced about the usage of medication. As stated in Time this month, “We know that kids are not just little adults, they metabolize medications differently” (Kluger, et al). Parents might feel scared or reluctant to administer medication after hearing assertions about the dangers. Parents worry enough about their kids everyday without the use of a strong medication. The tendency to assume that doctors fear the usage of medication in children is overwhelming. It is more than clear to see why parents, or anyone affected by this disorder

Medication administration is not only an increasing source of civil and administrative liability for school districts, but may lead to legal questions for school counselors, psychologists, and social workers(Mazur-Mosiewicz et al, 2009). Medication and its administration in school settings by school personnel have been topics addressed by both the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and the U.S. Department of Education and the federal courts as it relates to Section §504 and the IDEA. The rulings clearly suggest that schools have little power to limit their legal responsibilities, selectively deny administration of psychoactive prescriptive medication, and delegate the service to parents(Mazur-Mosiewicz et al, 2009).

These services are mainly psychotherapy and biomedical therapy. Psychotherapy is understanding your mind and illness, helping cope with feelings and symptoms, and changing behavior patterns that cause symptoms of the illness. When children don’t use the proper mental health services, they are at a greater risk for difficulties later in life such as substance abuse, suicide, or involvement with the correctional system (Turner). Therefore it is, important to not only attend psychotherapy but to also be on the proper medication when dealing any mental illness. In the American Psychiatric Association’s new DSM-5, fifteen new disorders are listed. Some mental health professionals fear that medication will now be given to those who would have earlier been seen as the “worried well” (Rubinstein, 2013). The key is to distinguish when one is mentally ill and needs assistance and when they are just going through a tough situation. Many psychologists have been through the same situation, and could help guide past that tough time in

In the last past six to seven years, ADHA and Bi Polar disorder has become a trending illness amongnst the youth of the United States of Anerica. In the filmed docuetnary “The Medicated Child,'' Frontline addresses the use of medications on kids who supposedly have ADHD and Bi Polar like sysmtoms. In this iformational film, Frontline questions doctors and psychiatrists reasoning on why they prescribe children who they claim have these illness different variety of drug cocktails, and do they really know if that child have the illness at hand they are treating. In the piece Frontline producer, Marcela Garviria, captures the lives of several families who are dealing with these illnesses and the side effects medication therapies have on their children lives. Garviria also reveal the pharmaceutical gain on diagnosing and treating individuals with mental disorders with medication.

“The Medicated Child” sheds light on the dangers and risks associated with children who are put on behavioral-modifying medications. These are issues that parents may not take into consideration when attempting to establish a healthy state of mind for their child. It is estimated that five million children in America have been diagnosed with some form of mental illness. Behavioral disorders are on the rise as each year another 20% of children will be diagnosed. (MedWeb, 2015) Whereas parents tend to turn to their child’s doctor for advice, this may produce a biased resolution that could even be fatal. In “The Medicated Child” we listen to parents who live through this nightmare and the doctors that play a major role in their child’s quality of life.

To fully understand the effects of antidepressants on children and adolescents, proper experimentation must be conducted, which could prove challenging as to the span of years and test subjects involved in these cases. Meanwhile, some mental health professionals assert that the use of antidepressants in children may well avert the brain from developing patterns of depression as an adult, and points to studies presenting the advantages which can offset the hazards in implementing such drugs. Depression is ominous and foreboding for those who suffer with this malady; professionals contend that the vast “impact of depression is greater than the impact of the

Depression is defined as a mental illness in which a person is experiencing deep sadness and loneliness. It is known as one of the most common mental illnesses and it affects all kinds of people, regardless of sex, age and religion. Many people are not aware that depression is not only diagnosed in adults, but in children and adolescents as well. Therefore, there is a debate about whether children suffering from depression should be allowed to take antidepressants. Antidepressant drugs should be prescribed for children suffering from depression under the conditions of doctors limiting the medication, including therapy and having the parents informed/educated.

The controversy over the use of antidepressants in the treatment of children has received a large amount of attention in the past years. Everyone has his or her own opinion of antidepressants and how they work, but no one takes time to research the claims of the treatments. Antidepressants are medications to treat depression in children, teens, and adults. The dosage given should vary on the level of depression and the age of the patient. The side effects also vary depending on the patient. One source states that, “teenagers on antidepressants should be monitored for any sign that the depression is getting worse” (HelpGuide.Org). Many teens are depressed from causes of neglect. Some may feel that their parents are not around as much as they should be. Depressed teens should be watched closely and if the parent or parents are not available to keep a close look the outcome of the teen may be in danger. If a parent pays more attention to their child, then they could intervene before the depression worsens. There is a possibility of prevention of the

Because the use of psychoactive medications to augment behavioral and psychosocial interventions in schools has significantly increased within the last few decades. Important measures should be taken by schools before dispensing medication. Schools must collect and document the written authorization from the parents to administer medications and to communicate with the students physicians (Mazur-Mosiewicz, Pierson, & McIntosh,

Even if children are a little depressed, should they be prescribed these drugs? Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Psychiatric drugs have never been tested on children, and most of them are not even approved by the FDA for use in childhood. Almost nothing is known regarding the influence of antidepressants on children's growing brains. While some researchers claim that they have found nothing to show that the pills cause any harm. The families of Paxil victims have another story to

A major concern for children who are being treated with medications are that they are either being overprescribed or under prescribed (Rey & Sawyer, 2003). When prescribers have not had sufficient training in use of these medications, especially practicing on youth that are in underserved areas where access to prescribers with expertise in treating youth with psychopharmacology is extremely limited, they are at risk for being under or over prescribed. Medication may be overprescribed when there is insufficient attention paid to other supports and services that may benefit the youth, as well (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s Committee on Community-Based Systems of Care [AACAP], 2012). Another major concern for those who

The most advancements know to man in the medical field were made in the last century; the first vaccines for Polio, Chicken Pox, Meningitis, etc., the creation of the blood banks, the discovery of stem cells, the first use of a bypass machine and countless other life-saving discoveries. As the knowledge of the human body systems and medicine grows, there is ultimately an increase in the available treatments for the many diseases, cancers, infections, and disorders that have plagued the human race since the beginning of time. With this increase comes a possibility of abuse in the system of these treatments, such as substance abuse and misdiagnoses. A common concern today is the overmedication of children in the United States, the most common

Many waver at the thought of turning to prescription pills when diagnosed with any illness. However, it seems as if when it comes to minors and depression the first step taken by the parents is to sign their child up for antidepressants. “Minors who cannot legally consent to treatment must still give their assent; hence, it is an agreement though not with the legal status of ‘informed consent’ (Koelch). Before adults receive any form of medicine, they must provide consent. Why is the same rule not applied to minors? Truthfully, minors might not even be aware of what they are taking, which brings the ethics of the parent and doctor into question.