Morris and Stone (2011)- Children and Meds

There is strong evidence that the use of psychotropic medications can cause more harm than benefit with long-term use.
"An exponential increase in the use of these drugs with children has occurred since 19990, despite a complete lack of evidence-based studies supporting their safety and efficacy with this population."

"American medicine is the most expensive health care system on the planet, yet it ranks 23rd among industrialized nations in creating 'healthy life expectancy.' The goal of the medical-pharmaceutical complex has changed from creating health to creating wealth."
The same things that are wrong with American medicine are wrong with psychiatry.

The thesis of the paper is that "larger systemic problems in the health care system and in American society have created and sustained the wholesale medication of American children.

Clinical, Social, and Cultural Iatrogenesis (any consequence of medical treatment or advice to a patient)

The way a society is organized has a powerful impact on the health of its population. Social organization is often measured by the gap between the rich and poor.

"The privileging of chemicals as first-line treatment for mental illness is economically based, not evidence based"

There has been a dramatic increase in disabled mentally ill americans since the introduction of modern psychiatric drugs in 1954.

1 in every 8 children given a stimulant for ADHD is diagnosed with early onset bipolar disorder (EOBD) and 1 in every 4 children given SSRIs is later diagnosed with EOBD.

Family Therapy and Psychotropic Medication

COAMFTE includes a requirement to cover psychopharmacology, psycho-diagnostic categories, and diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues.

The majority of MFTs (91%) treat clients on medications and adults on medication account for 25% of all cases seen by MFTs. This can go up to about 46% in other studies.

Psychotropic Medication with Children

At least 8 million American children are on one or more psychotropic drugs. 11% of children and adolescents have a diagnosable mental health condition leading to significant functional impairment.

Children in the welfare system are given drugs at 2-3 times the rate of children treated in the community. (Which makes me, Lauren, especially mad! These kids need to be able to cope outside of the system. If they're medicated out of their minds, they can't. Also, this means that health care providers are exploiting the government and the system for money and harming kids that are completely innocent. Pretty awful garbage)

There has been a significant increase in the use of all four classes of psychotropic medication among all children, and specifically preschool children.

There is little/no information on what psychotropic medication does to a child's brain. but a study done on rats showed a spiraling of the brain's neurons.

Ethical Challenge to Family Therapy

"It is imperative that MFTs understand how the actual practice of psychotropic medication use in children in largely disconnected and runs counter to what is known to be effective and safe for treating mental health disorders in childhood."

-- the article then gives a bunch of stats about this ^

"It is not sufficient to simply follow culturally prescribed norms for treatment of children when those same norms are developed and promulgated by an industry organized to expand profits Safe and effective treatment must be the preeminent standard of care."