Keith Conners, Psychologist Who Set Standard for Diagnosing A.D.H.D., Dies at 84

Keith Conners, whose work with hyperactive children established the first standards for diagnosing and treating what is now known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or A.D.H.D. — and who late in life expressed misgivings about how loosely applied that label had become — died on July 5 in Durham, N.C. He was 84.

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Psychiatric Labelling and Drugging of Australian Children

Australia is experiencing a tidal wave of psychiatric drugging. In a population of just over 24 million, more than 35 million prescriptions are written for psychiatric drugs every year, with $8 billion spent annually on mental health. Of great concern is the growing numbers of children and teenagers on antidepressants when no antidepressant is approved for use in children under the age of 18 for depression. Considering the huge increases in psychiatric drug consumption over the last twenty years – drugs we are told are nothing short of miraculous – why aren’t we doing better? This compelling documentary details the real story of what lies behind the ever-increasing psychiatric funding and drugging of our children and society. Watch Psychiatry: Friend or Foe? The Untold Story of Australian Psychiatry. It is vital information everyone needs to know.

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Lawmakers debated a bill April 24 that would authorize teachers to restrain violent students and remove unruly students from the classroom without facing legal action.

Lawmakers debated a bill April 24 that would authorize teachers to restrain violent students and remove unruly students from the classroom without facing legal action.

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Kids Diagnosed with Autism More Likely to Get Psychotropic Drugs

In a recently published study reviewing medication prescription in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Madden and her colleagues report that children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are much more likely to be prescribed a psychotropic medication compared to their peers who do not have this diagnosis.
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ADHD Meds Won’t Necessarily Help Your Kid’s Grades

Giving stimulants to kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may not help them complete homework or get better grades, a small study suggests.

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FDA APPROVES OXYCONTIN USE FOR CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 11

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week approved the narcotic painkiller OxyContin for pediatric use. The regulatory agency reported the drug is safe for children as young as 11 who are experiencing chronic pain that cannot be treated successfully with other medications. OxyContin is an extended-release version of oxycodone.

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Study links Acetaminophen during pregnancy to ADHD in kids

A shocking new study says a pain killer that half of all pregnant women in the United States take causes ADD and ADHD in children.

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'No jab, no pay': thousands immunise children to avoid family payment cuts

The federal government’s ‘no jab, no pay’ policy has prompted thousands of parents who had previously refused to immunise their babies to get them vaccinated.


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Psychiatric drugs: Normalizing our kids

Many families have to face the difficult decisions involved in giving prescription drugs to their kids.

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'Children who cannot keep quiet are being told they have brains so defective they require psychoactive drugs'

Non-academic children are likely to grow up thinking of themselves as failures or, increasingly, as sufferers from mental disorders, says the author of a new satirical novel about the ADHD epidemic

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How we're misunderstanding medicated kids

The stereotypical medicated kid in America is wealthy and spoiled and retains a psychiatrist to guarantee him extra time on tests or to help process the emotional fallout of being neglected by high-powered working parents. In this formulation, rich kids have psychological problems, and poor kids have real problems. But the stereotype isn't accurate; the correlation is, in fact, the opposite. Children in poor families are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with emotional and behavioral problems and to be prescribed medication. Our national understanding of youth and mental health starts with an important mistake.

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This new ADHD medication for kids comes in a fruity package.

Adzenys XR-ODT, an extended-release amphetamine, was released in May and is aimed at children 6 years and older with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. More than 11 percent of kids ages 4 to 17 have ADHD, and 75 percent of those children take medication, the CDC reports.

More >> Why this ADHD drug for kids is so controversial

Anti-psychotic medication for children could have lasting effects, research suggests

Researchers have found evidence that medicating children with behaviour problems could have an impact on levels of depression, anxiety and hyperactivity later in life.

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Antipsychotic Guidelines for Kids Still Largely Unheeded

Antipsychotic prescribing rates for children in foster care and for other Medicaid-insured children have leveled off following a period of rapid growth in the early and mid 2000s. However, guideline-recommended practices are frequently still not followed, new research shows.

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Antidepressive treatment during pregnancy can affect newborn brain activity

A new Finnish study shows that fetal exposure to commonly used SRI drugs may affect brain activity in newborns. The researchers suggest that the effects of drugs on fetal brain function should be assessed more carefully. Furthermore, indications for preventive medication should be critically evaluated, and non-pharmacological interventions should be the first-line treatment for depression and anxiety during pregnancy.

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What It's Like to Go on Antidepressants Before Puberty

When I was in elementary school, my two best friends were diagnosed with depression and given psychiatric drugs. They were both eight years old. At the time, I was weirdly jealous; I felt like they got more treats than me and the teachers gave them special attention. At one stage, I even made my mom take me to the doctor's, just to check that I wasn't depressed too.

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What to expect when your child is restrained at school

In a previous article, I called for a reduction in the use of seclusion and restraint in public schools by focusing on positive behavior interventions. In circumstances when restraint is used, parents need to be aware of the information they should expect to receive from their child’s school. I will address seclusion in a future article.

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Foster kids get antipsychotics at ‘new normal’ rate

Although fewer children in foster care and on Medicaid are getting prescriptions for antipsychotic medicines than during the early and mid-2000s, challenges remain.

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Most Antidepressants Don't Work for Kids, Study Finds

Most antidepressants don't work for children or teenagers with major depression and some may be unsafe, researchers reported Wednesday.

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Use of psych drugs in poor kids has leveled off

The good news is that the surge in use of antipsychotic medicines in poor kids peaked in 2008. The peak came a year later for those with private insurance.

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