I am almost afraid to watch that show, I hope proper perspective is placed where it needs to be with #1 being the person who wrote prescriptions for a toddler/preschooler in the first place.

Don't get your hopes up, it's 60 minutes. They have yet to do an unbiased story on our issues. This will be another ad for the pharmaceutical companies and the blame will fall completely on the parents or child services or both, not the psychiatrist. Anyone else remember how insulting and patronizing they were towards John Nash? And their Virginia Tech. story was horrible.

UGH! I watched the preview piece. It wasn't Riley's mom it was Couric spouting propaganda. I was quite interested in watching it when I first read your note. But, I don't think I can stand to watch it either after listening to Couric.

I'm nervous about it too. Saw the preview on TV yesterday, after a 10 second segment on the BMS settlement. The TV segment hit the Off-Label red herring, and stayed with that throughout. Is it going to be all about how doctors prescribe off-label so her's isn't to be singled out? God!

And Social Services did drop the ball on this one, I hope Child Protection gets its ass handed to them.
Plenty blame to go around here.

feel sick to my stomach after watching Katie Couric's piece on Bipolar in Children & how these misunderstood parents are being judged. I say to Couric & to the self-righteous prosecutor "Walk a mile in my shoes" & then let's see who judges who. Parents of children with neurological disorders do everything they can to improve the lives of their children. They get little if no help from family, friends & many in the medical profession. What they (we) do get is plenty of criticism, advise & comments like, "Isn't there something you can do with that child?" or "all that child needs is a little discipline." I could go on & on.
Whatever the diagnosis, these kids are terribly unhappy & fragile & there is little if no quality of life for the child or the family.
My heart breaks for these obviously overwhelmed parents who were desperate to help their child & to survive at the same time. These parents need our support & understanding, not to be charged with murder. Has the prosecutor sat down & asked the parents what a normal (if you can use that word) day was like for this family? Or how about 60 minutes trying that.

This episode was discusting.

I have lived this life, continue to live it. How dare people who don't understand, have normally difficult children talk down to parents who try so hard to follow the rules, keep their children safe & survive at the same time

not certain what to make of the 60mins piece on Bipolar in children. I have a 10yr old daughter that was diagnosed with bipolar disorder a little over a year ago. As of recent, I am really starting to question the diagnosis. With no "hard" mania I find it really difficult for doctors to diagnosis this in children.

After meeting with another Dr. at the UNC bipolar center last week, I have been slowly reducing my daughters lithium dosage. I sought out a second opinion after watching her hands shake uncontrollably and increased "frequent" urination continued for weeks.

It has only been seven days and she still has mood stabilizers on board but I have really seen a change. Less negativity and depression. The doctors at UNC want to reduce all the meds "slowly". I guess we will see....

for me, the 60mins spot really hit struck a cord. It reminded me, that I am in control of my daughters health care and I need to continue to pose the difficult questions and seek answers.

btw....I am really enjoying this blog.

I posted a poem by a bipolar acquaintance of mine on my blog--thought you might find it interesting. http://adhdjourney.blogspot.com/ We recently were considering a dx of Childhood Bipolar for our son, and during that process I remembered her poem...

FYI--she's absolutely the most charming person anyone could ever meet--sharp as a tack, beautiful--and I'm thankful that being properly treated enabled her to live life well, and not spend so much of her time dealing with the sort of emotions expressed in her poem.

I missed the 60 mins piece...but I can certainly relate to "B Kaven" when it comes to raising a bipolar child. BP children can have various symptoms. My second daughter lived with an anxiety level so high that she spent her entire young childhood in a rage, trying to find any level of comfort with herself. I have no memory or photo of her ever smiling before her diagnosis at age 5. She was incredibly violent for being a young child and there was no amount of anything that could curb it. She would only sleep from 1:00am to 7:00am and never nap. She would scream for various foods the entire time she was awake...and no food that was made for her would satisfy her. It was a living nightmare I wouldn't wish on anybody. I thank God there are medications and things that can be done for my daughter so that she can get past her terrifying emotions and live a life of happiness. She uses very low doses of meds and they work wonders in her life. She will probably never grow out of it, but as long as she doesn't miss a pill, she is very active and happy. Missing one dose is usually enough for her to go back to her old "pre-med" self.

I have no problem with media, parents, or anybody else questioning the medical community, so long as they don't pretend to over-diagnose the doctors that are helping our children. There are ALWAYS those that misuse the system, or simply misdiagnose. We should try to stop that...but don't go around judging the parents that are doing everything we can to help our children. You have no idea what it's like until you've been in our shoes.

But we do know what day in the life of Rebecca Riley was like (Google is your friend). This is the first hit on Google search for Rebecca Riley:

February 8, 2007

A chronology of involvement by the state Department of Social Services with the family of 4-year-old Rebecca Riley.

December 2002: DSS receives a complaint that the Rileys' oldest child had been neglected while the family was living in Springfield. DSS substantiates the complaint and opens a file on the family.

June 2005: DSS investigates allegations that Michael Riley had sexually abused Carolyn Riley's 13-year-old daughter from another relationship and refers case to Norfolk district attorney's office. DSS also investigates whether Carolyn Riley had neglected the couple's three children.

June 2006: The oldest child, an 11-year-old boy, is taken to the hospital by ambulance. DSS is assured by doctors and neurologists that he was not abused or neglected.

June 2006: A therapist working with Rebecca and her 6-year-old sister files a complaint with DSS after Rebecca's 6-year-old sister said during a home visit that Michael Riley had hit her. DSS had already investigated and did not substantiate the report.
Related coverage:
Mass. DSS dropped investigation of concerns about 4-year-old
Psychiatrist to suspend practice; denies wrongdoing
DSS timeline on Rebecca Riley

July 2006: The therapist files a second complaint with DSS, saying that during another home visit that Carolyn Riley appeared drugged and pointed out a puddle of urine where Rebecca had wet the rug while napping. DSS says doctors treating the Riley family say the mother and children are receiving appropriate medication.

October 2006: DSS investigates and substantiates reports from relatives that Michael Riley grabbed his son by the neck and slammed his head against a car window. Carolyn Riley seeks a restraining order.

November 2006: DSS meets in the agency's Weymouth office with Carolyn Riley, who says she plans to move to Hull and assures them the restraining order against her husband is still active.

Dec. 13, 2006: Rebecca Riley is found dead on her parents' bedroom floor. An autopsy later indicates she was poisoned by prescription medicine. DSS removes her siblings and places them in foster care. The agency also begins taking steps to seek a second medical opinion on the treatment and diagnosis of Rebecca Riley and her two siblings.

SOURCE: State Department of Social Services, State Police.