Non-Approved Anti-psychotic Being Prescribed to Children
In the nine years from 1993 to 2002, the number of prescriptions to children for anti-psychotic drugs increased from 210,000 to 1,224,000. Most of these 2nd generation drugs have not been approved for use on children are being used not to treat psychosis but for disruptive behavior disorders (37.8%), mood disorders (31.8%) and pervasive developmental disorders or mental retardation (17.3%). Only 14.2% were for psychotic disorders.
Medical professionals often criticise non-drug based, alternative treatments for their lack of scientific evidence and overreaching claims. Yet here are the same doctors prescribing unproved drugs to children for problems they were never designed to treat. Is it any wonder that parents are losing their faith in scientists, panicking at scare stories like MMR & Autism and turning to treatments of dubious benefit and safety such as chelation.
Abstract: National Trends in the Outpatient Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Antipsychotic Drugs
See Also: More antipsychotics being prescribed for children
Find Out More:
Books:
- ADHD: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children, Adolescents, and Adults
- 1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Ritalin Is Not The Answer: A Drug-Free, Practical Program for Children Diagnosed with ADD or ADHD
- Learning Disabilities:: How to Recognize and Manage Learning and Behavioral Problems in Children
- Nature’s Ritalin for the Marathon Mind: Nurturing Your ADHD Child With Exercise
June 7th, 2006
Medication, Science
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