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Psychiatric Medications and Foster Care: The New GAO Report
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has been investigating the rates of foster care children taking psychiatric medications in several states (not Vermont). A Senate hearing was held on...
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New NEJM Study Shows No Increased Cardiovascular Risk with ADHD Medications
by John Koutras, MD The use of ADHD drugs was not associated with an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events in children and young adults. John Koutras, M.D. This was the overall finding of a...
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Overtreatment of Adolescent Depression? A New SAMHSA Report Says Otherwise
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHA) recently issued a report based on new survey results. One area of focus was major depression among adolescents. Service...
View ArticleAre You Under Dosing SSRIs?
At a recent pharmacology update sponsored by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, John Walkup MD, vice chair of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Presbyterian Hospital/Weill...
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Vermont Youth are Taking Fewer Psychiatric Medications
At a recent meeting of the state’s Psychopharmacology Trend Monitoring Group, of which I am a member, data was presented from the Department of Vermont Health Access that showed clear reductions over...
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Questions and Answers – Clonidine
Question: So – does anyone use clonidine any more (in conjunction with stimulants for aggression or conduct problems)? I’ve seen a number of my patients ending up on Intuniv – is that better? Is it...
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Risperidone Beats Lithium and Divalproex for Pediatric Bipolar Disorder
by John Koutras, MD A recent NIMH funded study in the May issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry found risperidone to be more efficacious than lithium or divalproex sodium for childhood mania....
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Drug Holidays During ADHD Treatment
With school ending and summer vacation starting, many parents of children with ADHD wonder whether or not it makes sense to do a “drug holiday” until school resumes in the Fall. The Child Mind...
View ArticleTrends in Antipsychotic Medication Use 1993-2009
A new study in the Archives of General Psychiatry reports on the increasing use of antipsychotic medications in youth. The study analyzed nearly half a million medical visits over a 17 year span (1993...
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Cardiac Warnings Out for Citalopram and Escitalopram
Last year’s warnings from the FDA about dose-dependent QTc elongation and cardiac arrhythmias including Torsade De Pointes among patients taking citalopram at higher doses have been supplemented by...
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Zombification Is Not an Acceptable Medication Outcome
As the Halloween season approaches, I have again been reminded of the frequent concern of parents who are considering using medication as part of the treatment plan for their child’s...
View ArticleLiquid Long-Acting Methylphenidate Preparation Now FDA Approved for ADHD
Beginning in January, physicians will have the new option of a liquid long-acting methylphenidate treatment that requires only once-daily dosing. The medication, made by NextWave Pharmaceuticals...
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Stimulants for Cognitive Enhancement – Social Justice or Cosmetic...
A thought provoking article in the NY times raises questions about the practice of giving stimulant medications to children who don’t meet criteria for ADHD but who nonetheless might benefit from their...
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Can Reviewing Potential Side Effects Increase their Chance of Being Reported?
It is standard (and required practice) to give informed consent prior to beginning a new medication during which possible side effects are discussed. While few would argue with this practice,...
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Medication Storage Safety – Not a Glamorous Conversation, but Important
We all know how important the right medications can be to health, but when they are not stored properly, these same medications can become dangerous instruments of misuse. Diversion, suicide attempts,...
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Preschool ADHD: The Picture Six Years Later
It is commonly believed inattentive and hyperactive preschool children will likely “grow out” of these problems later in life. Good data to support this claim, however, are lacking. The Preschool...
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Study Challenges Youth Overmedication Perception
Are children and adolescents in the United States too easily given psychiatric medications? There has been a lot of attention to this question lately with many people both within and outside of the...
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ADHD Medications and School Performance
The Wall Street Journal recently published an article casting doubt about the ability of ADHD medications to improve school grades and achievement. Actually, casting doubt might be a little soft as...
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Limiting Antipsychotic Medications Shows Long-Term Benefits
The renewed debate surrounding the risk/benefit ratio of using antipsychotic medications for new onset psychotic illness has challenged the traditional recommendation of continued medication treatment...
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Parent Training Rated as First Line Treatment for Preschool ADHD
Recent practice guideline from the American Academy of Pediatrics now include a recommendation for assessment and intervention for ADHD before they begin elementary school, but many clinicians are...
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