Bipolar Children: Cutting-Edge Controversy, Insights, and Research (Childhood in America)

Over the last decade, the number of children diagnosed with bipolar disorder has increased up to fortyfold. This is a trend exclusive to the United States, and one that, alarmingly, leads to most of the diagnosed children—some still in their infancy—being prescribed antipsychotic drugs, often in combination with anticonvulsants. These classes of drugs have dangerous side effects, including a doubling of mortality rates, shortened life span, extreme weight gain, and Type II diabetes. In this book, psychologist Sharna Olfman leads a team of widely known experts who examine that astonishing rise in the diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder, particularly in the absence of any compelling evidence for either the validity of the criteria being used to diagnose it or the safety and effectiveness of the drugs being used to treat it. When a child is unnecessarily prescribed antipsychotic and anticonvulsant drugs, his or her mental and physical health may be irrecoverably compromised, says Olfman. With as many as two-and-a-half million children from across the socioeconomic spectrum now taking antipsychotics, we have set the stage for widescale child abuse.The contributors to this revealing and disturbing volume include psychiatrist David Healy, one of the world's leading authorities on psychotropic drugs; pediatrician Philip Landrigan, an internationally renowned health researcher; and Robert Whitaker, an award winning medical journalist. The contributors identify and explain complex and interrelated factors that have set the stage for the pediatric bipolar epidemic, and they recommend practice and policy changes to stem the tide of misdiagnosis and dangerous drug prescriptions. From The Publisher: Over The Last Decade, The Number Of Children Diagnosed With Bipolar Disorder Has Increased Up To Fortyfold. This Is A Trend Exclusive To The United States, And One That, Alarmingly, Leads To Most Of The Diagnosed Children-some Still In Their Infancy-being Prescribed Antipsychotic Drugs, Often In Combination With Anticonvulsants. These Classes Of Drugs Have Dangerous Side Effects, Including A Doubling Of Mortality Rates, Shortened Life Span, Extreme Weight Gain, And Type Ii Diabetes. In This Book, Psychologist Sharna Olfman Leads A Team Of Widely Known Experts Who Examine The Astonishing Rise In The Diagnosis Of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder, Particularly In The Absence Of Any Compelling Evidence For Either The Validity Of The Criteria Being Used To Diagnose It Or The Safety And Effectiveness Of The Drugs Being Used To Treat It. When A Child Is Unnecessarily Prescribed Antipsychotic And Anticonvulsant Drugs, His Or Her Mental And Physical Health May Be Irrecoverably Compromised, Says Olfman. With As Many As Two-and-a-half Million Children From Across The Socioeconomic Spectrum Now Taking Antipsychotics, We Have Set The Stage For Wide-scale Child Abuse. The Contributors To This Revealing And Disturbing Volume Include Psychiatrist David Healy, One Of The World's Leading Authorities On Psychotropic Drugs; Pediatrician Philip Landrigan, An Internationally Renowned Health Researcher; And Robert Whitaker, An Award Winning Medical Journalist. The Contributors Identify And Explain Complex And Interrelated Factors That Have Set The Stage For The Pediatric Bipolar Epidemic, And They Recommend Practice And Policy Changes To Stem The Tide Of Misdiagnosis And Dangerous Drug Prescriptions. Bipolar Children: Cutting Edge Controversy / Sharna Olfman -- Bipolar Syndrome By Proxy?: The Case Of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder / David Healy And Joanna Le Noury -- But Don't Call It Science / Lawrence Diller -- Creating The Bipolar Child: How Our Drug-based Paradigm Of Care Is Fueling An Epidemic Of Disabling Mental Illness In Children / Robert Whitaker -- The Childhood Bipolar Epidemic: Brat Or Bipolar? / Elizabeth J. Roberts -- Disrupted Care And Disruptive Moods: Pediatric Bipolar Disorder In Foster-care Children / Toni Vaughn Heineman -- Pediatric Bipolar Disorder And The Destruction Of Lived Experience: A Case Study / William J. Purcell -- An Invisible Plague: Pediatric Bipolar Disorder And The Chemical Colonization Of Childhood / Daniel Burston -- Developmental Neurotoxicity Of Industrial Chemicals And Pediatric Bipolar: A Call To Research / Philip J. Landrigan. Edited By Sharna Olfman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [141]-156) And Index. Over the last decade, the number of children diagnosed with bipolar disorder has increased up to fortyfold. This is a trend exclusive to the United States, and one that, alarmingly, leads to most of the diagnosed childrensome still in their infancybeing prescribed antipsychotic drugs, often in combination with anticonvulsants. These classes of drugs have dangerous side effects, including a doubling of mortality rates, shortened life span, extreme weight gain, and Type II diabetes. In this book, psychologist Sharna Olfman leads a team of widely known experts who examine that astonishing rise in the diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder, particularly in the absence of any compelling evidence for either the validity of the criteria being used to diagnose it or the safety and effectiveness of the drugs being used to treat it. When a child is unnecessarily prescribed antipsychotic and anticonvulsant drugs, his or her mental and physical health may be irrecoverably compromised, says Olfman. With as many as two-and-a-half million children from across the socioeconomic spectrum now taking antipsychotics, we have set the stage for widescale child abuse. The contributors to this revealing and disturbing volume include psychiatrist David Healy, one of the world's leading authorities on psychotropic drugs; pediatrician Philip Landrigan, an internationally renowned health researcher; and Robert Whitaker, an award winning medical journalist. The contributors identify and explain complex and interrelated factors that have set the stage for the pediatric bipolar epidemic, and they recommend practice and policy changes to stem the tide of misdiagnosis and dangerous drug prescriptions. Contents......Page 7 Bipolar Children: Cutting-Edge Controversy......Page 11 Bipolar Syndrome by Proxy?: The Case of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder......Page 22 But Don’t Call It Science......Page 38 Creating the Bipolar Child: How Our Drug-Based Paradigm of Care Is Fueling an Epidemic of Disabling Mental Illness in Children......Page 56 The Childhood Bipolar Epidemic: Brat or Bipolar?......Page 74 Disrupted Care and Disruptive Moods: Pediatric Bipolar Disorder in Foster-Care Children......Page 93 Pediatric Bipolar Disorder and the Destruction of Lived Experience: A Case Study......Page 105 An Invisible Plague: Pediatric Bipolar Disorder and the Chemical Colonization of Childhood......Page 117 Developmental Neurotoxicity of Industrial Chemicals andPediatric Bipolar Disorder: A Call to Research......Page 136 Series Afterword......Page 149 Notes......Page 151 Index......Page 167 About the Editor andContributors......Page 171 Scrutinizes the incredible increase in the number of children - some as young as one year old - being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and being treated as a result with drugs that have dangerous side effects