Chill pills for children?
It's becoming increasingly common to medicate children with behavioural issues, but is prescribing mood stabilisers for a six-year-old really the best solution, asks Terence Pillay.
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It’s been a contentious issue for a long time – children and medication to control their behavioural issues. I read an article by former National Institute for Mental Health Director, Thomas Insel, who asked, “Are children with behavioural or emotional problems being overmedicated by psychiatrists too busy to provide therapy, at the request of parents too busy to provide a healthy home environment?”
Behavioural problems in children can range from mild mischievousness to serious misconduct that can interfere with normal development. And it’s important for a medical or a mental health professional to establish the difference and the course of treatment.
But more and more stories are emerging claiming that teachers are recommending that over-active or boisterous children be placed on medication that stimulates their central nervous system. While they are not prescribing the medication, they are instructing parents to consult with medics that do.
Janet is a mother of two boys aged eight and six. Her six-year-old experienced some behavioural issues and his teachers and principal recommended that he see a child psychologist. Janet complied with the recommendation only to be told by the psychologist that her child needs to be placed on mood stabilisers. Janet was shocked at the suggestion (a) because her child was only six, and (b) he didn’t consult with the psychologist long enough for her to make that recommendation.
Mood stabilisers help even out mood swings by balancing brain chemicals that control emotions.
According to Webmd.com, mood stabilisers may be used to treat sudden manic episodes. Continued use of mood stabilisers, they claim, can eliminate extreme mood swings of depression and mania, and improve your child's quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe mood stabilisers with other medicines (such as antipsychotics) for more effective reduction of mood swings.
But it’s not all good. Mood stabilisers can have some serious repercussions on your child’s health. These include:
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- TremblinG
- Increased thirst and increased need to urinate
- Weight gain in the first few months of use
- Drowsiness
- A metallic taste in the mouth
- Bed-wetting (enuresis)
- Acne
- Abnormal kidney functioN
- Abnormal function of the thyroid or parathyroid gland
What course of action do you take to address your child’s behavioural issues?
You can email Terence Pillay at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter: @terencepillay1 and tweet him your thoughts.