Thursday, February 15, 2007

2-year-old O.D.'s

Debate Over Children and Psychiatric Drugs - New York Times: "In just the last decade, the rate of bipolar diagnosis in children under 13 has increased almost sevenfold, according to a study based on hospital discharge records. And a typical treatment includes multiple medications.

Rebecca was taking Seroquel, an antipsychotic drug; Depakote, an equally powerful mood medication; and Clonidine, a blood pressure drug often prescribed to calm children.

The rising rates of diagnosis and medication use strike some doctors and advocates for patients as a dangerous fad that exposes ever-younger children to powerful drugs.

Some child psychiatrists say bipolar disorder has become an all-purpose label for aggression."