roundup of recent TV/ documentary reports: PBS The Medicated Child

Here are some interesting and thought provoking links to television and investigative journalism reportage on various topics.

The first a PBS FRONTLINE follow up The Medicated Child provokes interesting quandaries around the diagnosis of Bi-Polar disorder in children and subsequent medicating of it. It's alarming viewing.

I'm not trying to make light of what's an intensely challenging situation for any parent but the sight of one child sat in front of a significant sized computer screen as his mum prompts him from the kitchen it's time to take his medication, followed by scenes of him wolfing down corndogs (excessive appetite is one of the side affects of the meds tho' the choice of what he's consuming clearly isn't) did make me wonder. There's more compelling viewing when the mother, who I admired immensely for the difficult decisions and situation she's facing, consults with his psychiatrist and bravely expresses her fear about her son's medication and inspite of it, still leaves his office with an increase of one of the meds.

We're not shown any of these parents being offered alternative supports or interventions other than medication. Yet as illustrated by the above example clearly they are open to suggestions and basically like any parent simply want to help their children however they can.

I realize these are serious challenges such children are facing, but it's alarming to watch mental health professionals prescribe medications willy nilly, whose efficacy and safety for children are not established. The parents are at the mercy of such professionals. Some of the research described and discussed certainly seems to have value and I'm not suggesting some complete anti-medication stance, but who could help but be alarmed at children taking 8 different medications on a daily basis.

BBC Panorama on ADHD

What's next for Craig?

Most of the estimated half million children in Britain with the behavioural condition Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) receive no treatment at all.


Those that do, tend to be given powerful stimulant medication like Ritalin and Concerta. These drugs can help inattentive and unruly children focus and have been the first choice for doctors treating ADHD over the last decade.

However, stimulant medication is not without its problems.

Similar to amphetamine, it can cause insomnia and suppress the appetite, causing weight loss and stunt growth. There have even been reports of children becoming suicidal on them


Read the rest here

To watch the programme click here

Latest on ADHD: Studies Track Treatment Outcomes for Kids With ADHD

Studies Track Treatment Outcomes for Kids With ADHD
Meds plus behavior therapy work best, but symptoms can return
(HealthDay News) -- Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) showed sustained improvement but were still at increased risk of behavioral problems in the years after treatment, say researchers.
Four studies appearing in the August 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry evaluated the outcomes of children who participated in the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (MTA), the first major randomized trial comparing different treatments of ADHD. The initial results of MTA were published in 1999.

Full story here

Behaviour drugs for children 'ubiquitous'

Canadian children are being widely prescribed antipsychotic drugs for behaviour and mood problems, with a significant proportion of the powerful drugs going to children under the age of nine, new research shows.

Ninety-four per cent of 176 child psychiatrists in Canada surveyed are prescribing drugs known as atypical antipsychotics for a variety of disorders and symptoms, including anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and "poor frustration tolerance

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=f4592da4-a0a8-4e97-9963-84c02462c4f5&k=86830

ADHD: PBS programme Medicating Children

Here is a link to a PBS special. It’s interesting, mostly profiles of children and their families response to ADHD and whether to medicate their children. Interesing stuff.
The programme is divided into 5 sections which are easily viewable with a broadband connection.
It was somewhat alarming to see the pressure being exerted by the school/teachers for the child to be medicated. One can understand the desire to run a functional classroom, but shouldn’t this be a decision driven by the child and parents rather than the distraught atmosphere created in the classroom.
It’s also remarkable how sedentary the classrooms feel when you’re watching this piece. No wonder children want to leap up and down. ADHD or otherwise the facility to move should be a much more integral aspect of any classroom. Compulsory skipping ropes and yoga mats in the corner would be a good start.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/medicating/watch/