Kellevision

When Childhood Bipolar Disorder - Isn't

I really have a problem with the recent surge in diagnosing children with Bipolar Disorder.  The children I see with this diagnosis are often the victims of serious issues at home, issues which may even include abuse.  Some struggle with PTSD and the mood swings which are inherent in a traumatized individual are attributed to "Bipolar Disorder" and medicated. 

10 Ways to Help an "ADHD" Child - Without Medication

Many children with whom I work I have been labeled "ADHD" and placed on medications in an attempt to control their "acting out" or their "meltdowns" or their "behavior problems" at school. 

DSM V and the Diagnosing of Human Behavior

http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/display/article/10168/1425378?pageNumber=4

A recent story in U.S. News and World Report states, "The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, as it is known, is hugely influential because it determines what is and is not a mental disorder. In turn, it is responsible for much of the sales growth in prescription drugs."  In a recent article in Psychiatric Times Dr. Allen Frances discusses his concerns about the way the next version of the DSM is being formulated and the possibility that formerly normal human behaviors will be become "medicalized".   

Diagnosis Creep, Bipolar Disorder and ADHD

“Diagnosis Creep” is a term used to describe a phenomenon where a disorder is identified and doctors then begin to see it everywhere. Two perfect examples of this are ADHD and Bipolar Disorder.

He is Homicidal and Suicidal...

He is threatening to kill his parents, his grandparents and himself.  He is threatening to use a gun, a chainsaw and a knife.  He is six years old.

Deaths in Children Possibly Linked to ADHD Drugs

A story in the Washington Post reports on a study which found a possible link between the stimulants used to treat ADHD (such as Ritalin) and sudden deaths in children. 

Trauma and Mental Disorders

I am reading a lot of research on how the symptoms of trauma and those of many major mental illnesses seriously overlap and will posting about this for the next week.  Most clinicians realize that the symptoms of depression and anxiety are part of the trauma spectrum.  Clients are often diagnosed with Major Depression or some type of anxiety disorder when the real problem is trauma.  Medication only lessens the symptoms (if you are lucky) but fails to resolve the actual disorder.  Treatment for the trauma resolves the issue and medication is no longer needed.  Clinicians are also are of the relationship between some personality disorder (i.e. Borderline Personality Disorder) and trauma.  But what I am now finding is that the medical model for psychiatric disorders may not be as accurate as it claims to be, or even useful.  Research is showing that trauma may be the underlying cause of such major mental illnesses as; Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Schizotypal Personality Disorder.  And that symptoms such as hallucinations, mood swings and psychosis may be better explained as trauma symtoms rather than a biological disorder.  It seems that once the trauma is treated, the "disorder" resolves itself without medication.

Because this is such a revolutionary way of thinking I'll be posting the research findings for each symptom or disorder complete with references to journal articles. 

I hope you enjoy this series.  In the future, to return to this series, click the "Trauma" category in the right side bar.

Newer Bipolar Medications May Cause Sudden Cardiac Death

CNN Health reports on new research showing that the atypical antipsychotics (i.e. Risperdal, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Geodon, Abilify and Clozaril) may cause sudden cardiac death. Research shows that these medications can double the chance of sudden cardiac death possibly by causing "disturbances in heart rhythms".  This is in addition to all of the other warnings that have come out recently about this class of drugs.  Yet doctors still continue to diagnose everyone who complains of "mood swings" with Bipolar Disorder and prescribing this class of drugs to them. 

Insomnia and ADHD

An article at the Sleep Disorders Guide lists sleep myths.  Myth #8 states that shows the correlation between ADHD-like behavior and insomnia.   

Parenting: Consistency vs. Rigidity

Many of the parents I work with were raised in very authoritarian homes themselves.  They are very clear that they do not want to raise their children this way.  Unfortunately, some of them confuse consistency with rigidity.  This confusion often leads to problems, including ADHD.  How?