"Childhood schizophrenia"? I admit to being a bit behind the eightball on this but I thought schizophrenia didn't usually present until age 20 at the earliest. But this article is talking about it in 8 year olds as if it's the most normal thing in the world for an 8 year old to have schizophrenia. Are you telling me this is another disorder that's being pushed into the pre-teens and "treated" with all those dreadful drugs? It's all just too much for me to take in right now. All I want to say is "Say NO to antipsychotics!" Especially in kids!

Gosh, do you really need to be a rocket scientist--or do a big, fancy study--to figure out that a 13-15 pound weight gain in 8 weeks on someone (presumably--these are kids, after all) under 100 pounds is unacceptable???

Lilly Zyprexa ' Chemical Straitjacket' Use by Children.

Zyprexa,as well as the other atypical antipsychotics, are being prescribed for children, even though this is an unapproved, off-label use. Eli Lilly has been charged in allegedly pushing the drug for children in more than one state.

A report by Dr. Cooper at Vanderbilt University states that 2.5 million children are now taking atypical antipsychotics.

St. Petersburg Times Reports on Zyprexa A risky drug may get wider marketThe FDA may approve Zyprexa for kids, despite its significant side effects in adult use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuK1t474ei4
(must see clip)

Daniel Haszard Zyprexa patient who got diabetes from it.

I got the schizophrenia. I don't take any medicines for it. Why do these children have to?

Mark,
Alas, they have no choice. Children are chattel in our society.

I recall learning "hebephrenic schizophrenic" back when I was taking Abnormal Psych.....I think that category has bit the dust though...that wouldn't be a child schizophrenic, but an adolescent.

Re:Sherry
"they have no choice"
Yes I know.
I was just trying to point out the diagnosis is an afterthough, a justification to drug the minds of misbehaving children. Psychiatry makes this invisible discipline possible in the clean name of science. A better world through chemistry.

No they should not be used for children, or for most adults for that matter, given the death and disability rates. However, the biggest users are Medicaid and the question is how to police Medicaid. Is there a way the semi-moribund federal Medicaid and Medicare guys could be awakened from their slumber? Doubtful. It is up to the states, and to people who are willing to help the states police the use of this lethal stuff. For children AND for adults. Think of all the adults with mental illness who are now living their lives with diabetes in addition to their mental condition. I have heard of a few very good ideas to help doctors and state medicaids do a better job. Save money. Save lives. Beat back Pharma.

Life is hard enough as an adult mental patient; shrinks regularly abuse their authority to mind f*ck patients into taking drugs that they (presumably) know have lots of side effects...all while claiming the meds are "safe and effective." God only knows how they deal with kids who have no rights and are often in pdoc's offices because their parents are frustrated and/or incompetent.

On the other hand, I'm glad to see more studies using better old-school antipsychotics to compare to the atypicals. Back when the atypicals first rolled out, the studies were using like 20mgs of Haldol versus the atypicals (at moderate doses): of course, the atypicals looked *awesome*.

Molindone sucks (antipsychotics generally do), but its kind of atypical-ish, has antidepressant qualities, and can cause weight loss...I think its a better drug to use to compare to zyprexa than, say, Haldol..it (Moban) is also less toxic than the phenothiazines, so this is an even better comparison than the perphenazine (Trilfaon) vs. the atypicals done in the CATIE study.

I've have had plenty of experience with the older antipsychotics and the atypicals. They're all ghastly drugs. I only take Seroquel now for a sleep aid.

Like the poster above, I was surprised to read about "childhood schizophrenia." The first psychotic break is usually in the early 20s. I've been diagnosed with schizophrenia and miraculously recovered. Hope these kids do too. I think the ticket is to recover from the psychiatric religion. It's like becoming an ex-Jehovah's Witnesses. Difficult but certainly worthwhile.

I am the father of an 8 yr old boy who is taking Risperdal. I have read many articles regarding the use of atypical antipsychotics in children and am very concerned about my son’s health and safety. My son does not have severe or even moderate mental health problems. He has not been diagnosed bipolar, autistic or schizophrenic. Nothing like that at all. The Doctor who sees him now has labeled him ADHD. However, a ten day evaluation at the Salem Hospital Pediatric Day Treatment Facility revealed that he suffered from depression. They did not diagnose him ADHD. My former wife began taking my son to mental health professionals because of anger outbursts and disruptive behavior. My son is a normal healthy boy. I disagree with the off label use of risperdal in my sons case. I would very much like to establish dialogue with other Mothers, Fathers, Grandmothers, etc who have experience with or have first hand knowledge how harmful atypical antipsychotics can be. I am particularly interested in cases involving children.
I can be reached at pkrlra@msn.com

Peter,
I trust you're in regular dialogue with an excellent attorney also.
Best wishes,
Sherry

Yes I am Sherry. Thanks for the well wishes

My son who is age 30 now, started taking Risperdal
and Valproic Acid about three years ago for
Bipolar II with psychotic delusions. He was
diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder, and they
said he had this probably since he was about age
19. He has very angry outbursts and destroyed
a lot of property when he got angry and then he
started getting really delusionary. That is when
I had to call for help for him (and me), as he
became a danger to himself and others at that point. However, ever since he has been on psych
meds, he seems to have no life in him at all.
At least he used to be able to work and make friends. And, now he can't and is very depressed.
He remembers having life and the ability to function, and he just can't do any of those things
any more. He has been certified as 100% disabled
by the Military (the VA), although MHMR will not
certify him as so. I have just written his counsellor with this concern as I myself wonder
and have confronted his counselor with the accusation that I believed all they were doing was
giving my son some form of chemical lobotomy.
I don't know much about this condition in children, as my son's doctor told us that Bipolar
usually does not show up til the late teens or
early twenties; same for schizophrenia. I wish
I could find better meds or something that would
actually hold out the promise of "healing".
This article was informative and helpful to me.
Thanks!