Furious Seasons

May 04, 2007

The Bipolar Children Are Killing My Back

So my back is keeping me off the computer again, but I wanted to pass along the following bit that CBS' "The Early Show" did on kiddos with bipolar disorder. It's in two parts on the web at least. Includes quotes from one of the Harvard bipolar child mafia, Janet Wozniak, who describes her diagnostic intake as:

"She said she would rely on a parents' report and a short visit with the child to prescribe medication for a child.
"Because the symptoms of bipolar disorder are not always present in the office visit with the doctor," she said. "

Includes a semi-lame bit on the Rebecca Riley case. Includes no skepticism about the BP Kiddo dx. Why do TV reporters get paid so much for doing so little? Sigh.

My back is usually a bit better in the morning so I will try and bust out a post or two before noon.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at May 4, 2007 12:29 AM

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Comments

Is it the parents or the children who need medication?
google controlling parents
Ten Signs You May Have Had Controlling Parents

When you were growing up, your parents...

1. Overscrutinized your eating, appearance, hobbies, or social life

2. Pressured you with perfectionistic expectations or unattainable standards

3. Forbade you from questioning or disagreeing with them

4. Discouraged you from expressing anger, fear or sadness around them

5. Violated your privacy

6. Intimidated, manipulated or overpowered you

7. Discouraged your efforts to experiment and think for yourself

8. Gave you no say in household rules and responsibilities

9. Seemed unaware of the pain they caused you or others

10. Seemed unwilling to admit they were wrong

Posted by: Mark(p.s.2) at May 4, 2007 03:39 AM

"Why do TV reporters get paid so much for doing so little?"

Because they tend to be pretty. (Yes, and I mean men AND ladies.)

Posted by: Marissa Miller at May 4, 2007 04:18 AM

That's a great sense of logic there. Medicating anyone, young or old without presenting symptoms.I suppose the symptoms she relies on for the parents to tell her are temper tantrums.

Posted by: Stephany at May 4, 2007 07:41 AM

The money the pharmaceutical industry pours into the media to pay for direct to consumer advertising must have a tremendous effect on mental health coverage. Fraudulent claims about "chemical imbalances" found in a lot of direct to consumer advertising is probably completely distorting coverage of mental health issues.

In that CBS piece they show Halley having an "episode", she's on the couch and appears restless. Halley is on antipsychotic meds, meds that cause a form of EPS called akathesia. Akethesia is an extreme restless feeling. Could that "episode" be a child's reaction to the antipsychotic meds she's on?

Later on in the piece they talk about how her parents tried to withdraw her from meds. Did they do this abruptly? They talk about how her symptoms returned worse than ever, they never discuss how this might be a rebound effect from abrupt discontinuation of meds and not an underlying illness.

They're not just uncritical about what is probably a completely bogus diagnosis, they're not critical about using dangerous drugs that might have detrimental long term effects on her health and neuro development.

Posted by: Eric Whalen at May 5, 2007 07:41 AM

I hope your back feels alot better. Take care.

Posted by: Dr. Black Kitty at May 6, 2007 10:41 PM