Straight Talk about Psychiatric Medications for Kids

by Wilens, Timothy E.

• ISBN13: 9781572304048
• ISBN10: 1572304049
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-10-15
• Publisher: The Guilford Press

Summary

In this popular resource, Dr. Timothy Wilens provides essential guidance for parents facing tough choices about whether or not to give a child medication for emotional or behavioral problems. Packed with frequently asked questions, examples, and charts, the book explains which medications are prescribed for kids and why; their effects on health, emotions, and school performance; how to maximize the benefits; and when to consider other treatments instead. A special 2005 supplement advises parents on the issues surrounding the FDA "black box" warning on SSRIs for depression in children and teenagers.

Author Biography

Timothy E. Wilens, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, specializes in pediatric and adult psychopharmacology in his clinical work at Massachusetts General Hospital. Board-certified in child, adolescent, adult, and addiction psychiatry, Dr. Wilens has researched and published widely on psychiatric medications and their uses.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(6)
Part I: What Every Parent Should Know about Psychiatric Medications for Children
The Preliminaries: Building a Foundation of Knowledge	7	(44)
The Psychopharmacological Evaluation: Finding Out What's Wrong	51	(23)
The Diagnosis and Treatment Plan: Laying Out a Strategy to Help Your Child	74	(32)
Treatment and Beyond: Collaborating in Your Child's Ongoing Care	106	(29)
Part II: Common Childhood Psychiatric Disorders
Attentional and Disruptive Behavioral Disorders	135	(9)
Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders	144	(5)
The Mood Disorders	149	(9)
Anxiety-Related Disorders	158	(10)
Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders	168	(3)
Disorders of Known Medical and Neurological Origin	171	(7)
Other Mental Health Disturbances Affecting Children and Adolescents	178	(13)
Part III: The Psychotropic Medications
The Stimulants	191	(15)
The Antidepressants	206	(10)
The Mood Stabilizers	216	(7)
The Anxiety-Breaking Medications	223	(5)
The Antihypertensives	228	(5)
The Antipsychotics	233	(7)
Medications for Sleep, Bedwetting, and Other Problems	240	(14)
Appendix
Representative Medication Preparations and Sizes Used for the Treatment of Childhood Emotional and Behavioral Disorders	243	(5)
Example of a Completed Medication Log	248	(1)
Medication Log	249	(5)
Resources	254	(9)
Bibliography	263	(6)
Index	269