Antipsychotics in Kids: The New York Times Gets it Right - and Wrong

I am the mother of 2 daughters---an 11 year old and a 14 year old.  Both daughters have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. The diagnoses came 3 1/2 years apart.  Both daughters are on antipsychotics.  I am not angered by your article.  I am saddened by it though as it struck a chord with me.  I have been "hinted" at that perhaps "a stronger method of discipline" is all my children need.  I have been told, point blank, that if I would have only taken them to church regularly they would not have these problems.  My oldest daughter wrote a note detailing which people and animals she wanted to kill.  She also had an unhealthy obsession with fire.  That is some very scary stuff for a parent to deal with.  My younger daughter had 3 to 4 hour long uncontrollable rages complete with shrieking, wailing, delusions and occasional violence and that was when she was 6 years old.  Being on the antipsychotic medications has allowed them to reclaim their childhood.  It has allowed me to keep my family sane and together.  It very well might boil down to--if you haven't lived life with mental illness, you just don't know what it is truly like.  I can tell you this:  Antipsychotic medications have saved my young children's lives. 

Many thanks for writing this. Most of what I have learned about early-onset bipolar has been through people like you, who aren't afraid to speak out. I've said it before. Parents of bipolar kids are my favorite people. You will always have a supporter in me. I will continue to do what I can to get the information out there. Please keep in touch.

Hi John; This article was truly infuriating. It's not that there is NO problem with drug companies pushing their new products on ALL doctors. The problem is that the repoters -- Gardiner Harris, Benedict Carey and Janet Roberts -- make it sound like it's some kind of drug company "conspiracy" exclusively aimed at harming "children," specifically with those nasty antipsychotics. Shocking. And wrong! As another parent of a bipolar child (onset at birth), I can't say enough good things about how PROPER medication (which includes the antipsychotic Risperdal) has saved my child's life. But THIS is the real point: There are a ton of mediocre and outright BAD doctors in every specialty. I fired three psychiatrists before I settled on the one we've now had for 7 years. And even among the "better" doctors, there is always the pressure for them to prescribe the latest and greatest product that the pharm companies are selling. If I had a dollar for every time I've been waiting in our psychiatrist's office and seen a pharm rep leaving the office, I'd be able to pay for our off-network doctor! But this problem isn't exclusive to psychiatrists, much less child psychiatrists. Many older people I know have developed severe joint pain from their cholesterol-lowering meds. Eventually, they chose to give up the meds to stop the joint pain! But do we see the NYT writing articles "investigating" cardiologists who are pushing cholesterol meds??? NO. So read the NYT article yourself. Here's the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/10/health/10psyche.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 And it strikes you as being rather Scientologistesque, send 'em an email and tell them you don't appreciate their bias.

John,

So much awareness needs to be raised about early onset mental illnesses. My middle son had symptoms from age 4, we took him to his first psychologist at age 6. We tried EVERYTHING from psychologists ate age 6, neuropsych. exams (he also has epilepsy), p-doc at age 12, therapy, anger management, fire prevention classes, parenting classes and we got the alphabet soup mix diagnosis(es) of ADHD, major depression, ODD, OCD etc. It was not until he was admitted to the psych hospital at age 14 that he was finally diagnosed bp.

He is 21 and at home for the 4th time. His history includes addiction to drugs and alcohol (clean and sober now), he had a child at age 20 (he has 50% custody), many suspensions and 1 expulsion from school, a stint in juvenile detention for carrying a concealed weapon at school, never finished HS (has a GED), physical assaults, fired from several jobs. Despite therapy and meds (5) he continues to have major manic/depressive periods, anxiety that interferes with daily life, paranoia, off and on hallucinations (began at age 8), delusional thinking, MAJOR obsessive and controlling behavior towards any women in his life and significant OCD. Since he was NOT diagnosed for so many years he has developed poor coping skills and personality issues (narcissism). There is NO doubt in my mind that early diagnosis and early treatment(yes with meds) would have alleviated many of the symptoms that are now SO ingrained. He has absolutely no memory of his elementary/middle age school years as well as family events, he was basically struggling to get through the day(as he still does). We did everything right in trying so many professionals and trying to work with the school however early onset bp was so misunderstood no-one believed us when we spoke of how bad it was. We heard "bad parents" many times.

Amazingly enough despite all of these symptoms and the fact his p-doc, voc rehab counselor and REAMS of documentation he has been denied SSI even though he CANNOT work. He was denied at the appeal hearing so now we are faced with an attempt in federal court, slim chance.

By the way, my oldest and youngest son have NO issues and are both suceeding very well (ages 25 and 17). Very, very sad because my middle son would have had a better chance. Pat

Kidnapped at age 10 by his father, taken to another culture in the U.S. where he did not fare well, the loss of two best friends withing three years of each other, divorce of his parents, custody of father whose new wife demanded he do chores his father had not allowed his mother to ask of him or his sisters. Mother took custody and father shut him out of his life for a few years.  During teen age years went the marijauna, drinking route.  Made a life for himself and succeeded in his profession, married a demanding person who believed sleep was for her not for him.  She aliented hiim from his birth family.  After too many years he cracked and sought counseling.  First counselor told him to "get over it."  He tried several more times to find help to no avail.  A family member committed suicide and it tossed him over the edge.  Antipsychotics had been prescribed by a previous doctor.  He complained about side effects and was told to work through them.  He tried for a year.  Dr.'s therapist told him bipolar diagnosis was incorrect and to go off antipsychotics but go to family doctor for valium.  Did not warn him of going off medication cold turkey.  He ended up in the hospital. Hospital doctor reviewed his file and said he had been put on experimental drugs which he should not have been.  Agreed bipolar diagnosis incorrect. Wife began divorce proceedings.  He asked family member to move in with him to help with his recovery and finances.  After two years on antipsychotics his thought processes were still in bad shape.  He was trying to pay bills and let his antipsychotics lapse.  He started doing very well.  He was pleasant, paying attention to his debts and doing well at work.  When praised on how well he was doing he said he felt better than he had in a long time and said he was no longer on depacote.  He did great until he was injured at work.  Worker's Comp yanked him about for over a year and a half before surgery was performed.  He had to work and did.  He came home every day in terrible pain.  He finally got an attorney who got him medical attention.   After surgery he was still in pain and doctor seemed to lose interest and gave impression he was an addict and the pain could be manageable.  He finally gave him a pain killer which gave him the rare side effects of antipsychotics.  He had an episode. It took three days to get a response from the doctor.  Finally, the pharmacist got through.  The doctors excuse for the wrong drug?  "I was tired." He gave no suggestions on how to come down off the psychotic high.  Patient finally demanded the doctor see him in person. He asked family member to go with him to the doctor and the family member's comments about the drugs went right over the doctor's head.  On antipsychotics he has illusions of grandeur, spends himself into debt, bugs family members for money, beligerant, hyperactive, talks incessantly.  He is quite charming and able to get money from friends.  After the antipsychotics wear off he is upset at what he has done.  Antipsychotics give him a personality that is not him.  Is there any help for people who have been given antipsychotics wrongly?  I am past the point of desperation.  It breaks my heart doctors write prescriptions without thought and after a patient crashes tell them to find another doctor.

Kidnapped at age 10 by his father, taken to another culture in the U.S. where he did not fare well, the loss of two best friends withing three years of each other, divorce of his parents, custody of father whose new wife demanded he do chores his father had not allowed his mother to ask of him or his sisters. Mother took custody and father shut him out of his life for a few years.  During teen age years went the marijauna, drinking route.  Made a life for himself and succeeded in his profession, married a demanding person who believed sleep was for her not for him.  She aliented hiim from his birth family.  After too many years he cracked and sought counseling.  First counselor told him to "get over it."  He tried several more times to find help to no avail.  A family member committed suicide and it tossed him over the edge.  Antipsychotics had been prescribed by a previous doctor.  He complained about side effects and was told to work through them.  He tried for a year.  Dr.'s therapist told him bipolar diagnosis was incorrect and to go off antipsychotics but go to family doctor for valium.  Did not warn him of going off medication cold turkey.  He ended up in the hospital. Hospital doctor reviewed his file and said he had been put on experimental drugs which he should not have been.  Agreed bipolar diagnosis incorrect. Wife began divorce proceedings.  He asked family member to move in with him to help with his recovery and finances.  After two years on antipsychotics his thought processes were still in bad shape.  He was trying to pay bills and let his antipsychotics lapse.  He started doing very well.  He was pleasant, paying attention to his debts and doing well at work.  When praised on how well he was doing he said he felt better than he had in a long time and said he was no longer on depacote.  He did great until he was injured at work.  Worker's Comp yanked him about for over a year and a half before surgery was performed.  He had to work and did.  He came home every day in terrible pain.  He finally got an attorney who got him medical attention.   After surgery he was still in pain and doctor seemed to lose interest and gave impression he was an addict and the pain could be manageable.  He finally gave him a pain killer which gave him the rare side effects of antipsychotics.  He had an episode. It took three days to get a response from the doctor.  Finally, the pharmacist got through.  The doctors excuse for the wrong drug?  "I was tired." He gave no suggestions on how to come down off the psychotic high.  Patient finally demanded the doctor see him in person. He asked family member to go with him to the doctor and the family member's comments about the drugs went right over the doctor's head.  On antipsychotics he has illusions of grandeur, spends himself into debt, bugs family members for money, beligerant, hyperactive, talks incessantly.  He is quite charming and able to get money from friends.  After the antipsychotics wear off he is upset at what he has done.  Antipsychotics give him a personality that is not him.  Is there any help for people who have been given antipsychotics wrongly?  I am past the point of desperation.  It breaks my heart doctors write prescriptions without thought and after a patient crashes tell them to find another doctor.

Kidnapped at age 10 by his father, taken to another culture in the U.S. where he did not fare well, the loss of two best friends withing three years of each other, divorce of his parents, custody of father whose new wife demanded he do chores his father had not allowed his mother to ask of him or his sisters. Mother took custody and father shut him out of his life for a few years.  During teen age years went the marijauna, drinking route.  Made a life for himself and succeeded in his profession, married a demanding person who believed sleep was for her not for him.  She aliented hiim from his birth family.  After too many years he cracked and sought counseling.  First counselor told him to "get over it."  He tried several more times to find help to no avail.  A family member committed suicide and it tossed him over the edge.  Antipsychotics had been prescribed by a previous doctor.  He complained about side effects and was told to work through them.  He tried for a year.  Dr.'s therapist told him bipolar diagnosis was incorrect and to go off antipsychotics but go to family doctor for valium.  Did not warn him of going off medication cold turkey.  He ended up in the hospital. Hospital doctor reviewed his file and said he had been put on experimental drugs which he should not have been.  Agreed bipolar diagnosis incorrect. Wife began divorce proceedings.  He asked family member to move in with him to help with his recovery and finances.  After two years on antipsychotics his thought processes were still in bad shape.  He was trying to pay bills and let his antipsychotics lapse.  He started doing very well.  He was pleasant, paying attention to his debts and doing well at work.  When praised on how well he was doing he said he felt better than he had in a long time and said he was no longer on depacote.  He did great until he was injured at work.  Worker's Comp yanked him about for over a year and a half before surgery was performed.  He had to work and did.  He came home every day in terrible pain.  He finally got an attorney who got him medical attention.   After surgery he was still in pain and doctor seemed to lose interest and gave impression he was an addict and the pain could be manageable.  He finally gave him a pain killer which gave him the rare side effects of antipsychotics.  He had an episode. It took three days to get a response from the doctor.  Finally, the pharmacist got through.  The doctors excuse for the wrong drug?  "I was tired." He gave no suggestions on how to come down off the psychotic high.  Patient finally demanded the doctor see him in person. He asked family member to go with him to the doctor and the family member's comments about the drugs went right over the doctor's head.  On antipsychotics he has illusions of grandeur, spends himself into debt, bugs family members for money, beligerant, hyperactive, talks incessantly.  He is quite charming and able to get money from friends.  After the antipsychotics wear off he is upset at what he has done.  Antipsychotics give him a personality that is not him.  Is there any help for people who have been given antipsychotics wrongly?  I am past the point of desperation.  It breaks my heart doctors write prescriptions without thought and after a patient crashes tell them to find another doctor.