Other

Resources: Review - Using psychiatric drugs on children

1 min read
This book professes to provide parents with a balanced view of psychiatric disorders affecting children and the medications that can be used in their management. However, within the first few pages it is evident that this is a far from balanced view.

Wilens suggests that medications are capable of specifically targeting the subtle chemical differences in the brains of children with psychological disorders. Yet no such chemical differences are measurable. And the medications used are, in fact, widely dispersed through many different pathways, not just in the brain but the whole body. Wilens assures parents that as long as the child is taking the medication as prescribed they are safe.

Yet he admits that little is known about their long-term side-effects.

Wilens also fails to emphasise the importance of a balanced assessment of the real needs of individual children and the myriad considerations concerning the environment the child is expected to function in. He restates as fact that ADHD is caused by a disturbance in the brain but provides no evidence, as indeed there is none.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here


More like this

Hertfordshire Youth Workers

“Opportunities in districts teams and countywide”

Administration Apprentice

SE1 7JY, London (Greater)