Poor children four times more likely to be given antipsychotics

[Inspired_Neurosis]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/12/health/12medicaid.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Although the link is well worth reading, I'll clip what I can get away with without a copyright violation:

"New federally financed drug research reveals a stark disparity: children covered by Medicaid are given powerful antipsychotic medicines at a rate four times higher than children whose parents have private insurance. And the Medicaid children are more likely to receive the drugs for less severe conditions than their middle-class counterparts, the data shows.

Those findings, by a team from Rutgers and Columbia, are almost certain to add fuel to a long-running debate. Do too many children from poor families receive powerful psychiatric drugs not because they actually need them — but because it is deemed the most efficient and cost-effective way to control problems that may be handled much differently for middle-class children?"

And there supposedly isn't a caste system in modern America.

[Velvet Elvis]

One theory:

Mental illness is largely hereditary. Mental illness makes it harder to earn a decent living. Most people with moderate to severe mental illness are therefore going to be poor. They are going to pass on the mental illness to their kids who will therefore be more likely to be treated with antipsychotic medications.

Yes there is a caste system, but it's not the one you're getting at. It's a system that discriminates against the mentally ill and doesn't provide them with the treatment and support they need to economically succeeded.

[celestia]

“Medicaid kids are subject to a lot of stresses that lead to behavior issues which can be hard to distinguish from more serious psychiatric conditions,” he said. “It’s very hard to pin down.”--quoted from article

Maybe I just got lucky but the mental health services available to my minor child are not administered by Medicaid. He is covered by Blue Cross under a program for poor kids. What struck me was what I quoted because I think it's well known that if we address the issues in the *crazy* parents, in the long run the incidence of mental illness in that population of children will decrease. I think it's a matter of like VE said (paraphrasing), MI begets MI. But further to that point, MI parents have the myriad of their issues and it makes it very hard to focus on staying a sane parent much less to keep your eye on the ball with what's going on at their school. Most of my years I've been a high functioning loon so I've been able to look out for my own kids. I have, however, see the phenomenon stated in that article come home to roost more than a few times.

I'm sure there is more to it but it seems like these children are maybe being prematurely medicated because their parents just don't know any better or know what to look for in terms of quality in a provider (they are out there--even for us poor folks.) Or, more sinisterly, the parents perpetuate the MI and contribute to pouring fuel on the fire by *making* their kids behavior problems the problem of the school district. The school districts' psychologist often make med recommendations and I think there are a lot of parents who are totally down with medicating their child if it will me the child will be compliant to the rules at home and school. I think waaaaay too much emphasis is placed on "what are schools doing?" Like the schools are automatically expected to step in as the parental authority in all matters including MI. We should be demanding a higher degree of accountability at the parent level, but thats a different can of worms.

I can speak first hand to how hard it is to be crazy one's self and have to be on top of the issues with the kids so that they are not exploited, over medicated, etc. For the most part, again probably luck, my kids have gotten good health care since I've been disabled and lost private insurance. And keeping them healthy, motivated, and optimistic about life in general I have to walk the walk, meaning do the best I can to keep myself mentally fit.

[cairn]

children covered by Medicaid are given powerful antipsychotic medicines at a rate four times higher than children whose parents have private insurance. And the Medicaid children are more likely to receive the drugs for less severe conditions than their middle-class counterparts, the data shows.

I wonder how much is due to lack of coverage for therapy. Medication is really the only alternative then.

children with diagnoses of mental or emotional problems in low-income families are more likely to be given drugs than receive family counseling or psychotherapy.Part of the reason is insurance reimbursements, as Medicaid often pays much less for counseling and therapy than private insurers do.

There ya go.

[swashbuckle]

Not surprising, the needless drugging of the youth is an epidemic. Big Pharma is the most powerful lobby group in Washington and they don't care about the kids well-being, they're looking for new customers. Get them while their young, hook them for life $$$

[glitterpants]

Not surprising, the needless drugging of the youth is an epidemic. Big Pharma is the most powerful lobby group in Washington and they don't care about the kids well-being, they're looking for new customers. Get them while their young, hook them for life $$

Meh, yes and no. I'm almost 18, have genuine mental illnesses, and could have benefited a lot from proper diagnosis and treatment when I was younger.

[noob-leech]

This isn't restricted just on MI though, and does apply to any chronic illness. People simply can't afford a healthy lifestyle.

I've just read an [link=http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/737921--porter-how-sick-must-you-be-to-earn-a-better-diet?bn=1]article[/link], where a doctor faces a hearing for raising people's welfare by granting their special diet allowances.

Just to plagiarize from the article...

If they aren't really sick, chances are good they will be soon. People from "food-insufficient households" are more likely to suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure, food allergies and depression, according to Statistics Canada's national health study. One-fifth of the poor suffered from three or more chronic conditions.

I met a 60-year-old woman on Friday who had eaten nothing but fried potatoes for three days. There's a picture of her with all the food she ate over a week: flour, onions, a single red pepper, a can of pineapples from the food bank. Including the pitcher of tap water, there were 13 items on her little kitchen table. I include more ingredients in a single Sunday night meal. She already has diabetes, although she doesn't get the special allowance.

Like the doctor says, this is a fundamental social issue, where the government has to raise social assistance rates to help people.

[swashbuckle]

Has anyone ever considered the novel idea that maybe some kids really need to be on medication?

The minority do need them, but the majority are drugged needlessly. The facts are facts, little research is necessary to find them. The corporations own the government and as soon as you get your s.s. number the government owns you.

[noob-leech]

The minority do need them, but the majority are drugged needlessly. The facts are facts, little research is necessary to find them. The corporations own the government and as soon as you get your s.s. number the government owns you.

I'm glad we're not on Wikipedia; otherwise, I can imagine [link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Avoid_weasel_words#Improving_weasel-worded_statements]lots of drama[/link] occurring from what you've just written.

[nalgas]

People from "food-insufficient households" are more likely to suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure, food allergies and depression, according to Statistics Canada's national health study. One-fifth of the poor suffered from three or more chronic conditions.

A big part of the problem is that, unlike in the past, cheap food is now stuff that's unhealthy, and basic, healthy food is more expensive than processed junk. It can end up costing a lot more money to eat a properly balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables and whatnot than to just get whatever's most affordable and the most efficient way to stop you from feeling hungry. As a result, poor people who can afford food can't afford to eat well, and they end up with all sorts of health problems that could be prevented or reduced with proper nutrition.

I'm glad we're not on Wikipedia; otherwise, I can imagine [link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Avoid_weasel_words#Improving_weasel-worded_statements]lots of drama[/link] occurring from what you've just written.

[citation needed]

[noob-leech]

[citation needed]

^{[[link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed]citation needed[/link]]}

[swashbuckle]

To clarify my statement...

..The overwhelming minority (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml) of American's let alone children unfortunately have a serious illness and need to be treated with medication, however, the majority of children who present a "problem" (mostly those who lack a proper diet and parental discipline) have no significant illness are drugged anyway. This is due to a common knee-jerk reaction from unreasonably frightened parents (resulting from the propaganda machine that fills the American television screen, radio, and internent 24/7), the schools and the "quack" child psychologists/psychiatrists/pediatricians whose main priority is to assist the state in keeping little Jason & Jennifer in line...

..Wikipedia is a reliable reference, it's a good place to start, however, it is also a reliable source of amusement and mutual masturbation.

..If you want the truth go to the source, try a proper library, and stay away from the msm.

..And if you wish to validate whether or not you are owned, 1913, 1933 and April 15th come to mind...

[reddog]

i *am* owned, but not by the government.

[AirMarshall]

I might also support intervention treatement for children with the facts now showing that delaying proper treatemeent of Bipolar, MDD and now Schizophrial is now proven to worsen outcome despite later adequate treatment.

At some point soon, the government is going to lose a whopping lawsuit for failing to treat (even against their will) MI patients under there guardianship, including indigent, poor, psych hospitals, and criminals in prison. The (fair) comparison will be that they wouldn't have allowed a diabitic to die for want of meds & supplies, nor allowed a man with a heart attacke to die for failure to take him to the ER.

It's just that presently, it is more convenient for authorities to save taxmoney and manpower by saying "he has the right to refuse medical treatment".

a.m.

[Persephone]

Another thing Swashbuckle - the next step after therapy is not APs. The next step for the vast majority of children (there are exceptions like January Schofield) are SSRIs and ADD meds. I'd bet most kids who are on APs need to be on some type of meds, just maybe not APs.

[Dooga16]

This is a bit of a political answer. But the pressure to succeed is going up every year, I would say. If not every day. Kids have so much pressure on them today. About ten years ago, I would break down crying if I got less than 90% on a Middle School test. Why should that be upsetting? Then again, I wasn't one of the cases where medication was not needed. Still, I can't help but suspect that the way society works is really failing children. Poor kids aren't stupid, either. They know they have it harder. There parents need help around the house while they work two jobs. Then they have less time to study. They can't afford the new clothes so they are made fun of in school. Unable to find time for sports, they miss out on a way to reduce stress and improve focus. Eventually, if they know they want to attend college, they'll be busy working a part-time job. Some students (I don't know how) work full time hours while going to school and maintain high marks.

Society gives scholarships out based on income. There are some benefits people get to try and counteract the difficulties they face due to poverty. But these benefits don't come close to making up for all the extra obstacles the "average" poor person will face. Parents have less time with children, perhaps. They might be more stressed from poor benefits.

People from all wealth categories amaze me at times. I was friends with poor kids throughout school. I began my childhood with a single mother who made ends meet, and I ended up in the Middle-Upper Class (marriage + Mom went to college). We lived with my grandparents are different times in my life. I had expensive dental work my Mom still got done so I wouldn't be deprived of anything other kids had. By High School, most of my friends didn't talk to me. It wasn't my choice. They were all off doing drugs, selling drugs, and getting in trouble. This is an exaggeration, of course. A few of my poorer friends stayed out of trouble. But there was a clear difference between where the poor ended up and the rich ended up. Mental health issues can definitely be the increased by poverty.

There are people who will tell you stupid people come from bad stock. That's nonsense. One friend told me "he'd never drink." He sells marijuana. Another friend said he was going to University - expelled from school. Optimistic and hopeful young kids ended up failing miserably. The reason this "bad stock" idea is wrong - if someone is actually skeptical of that - is simple. Heredity doesn't usually "stack up." Two smart parents will usually have a child slightly less intelligent than them, for instance. Genetic issues often gravitate towards an average.

A doctor is helpless in some of these situations. Therapy could help, but sometimes life is just too much. There are too many problems to sort out and not enough time. The doctors probably just sedate kids so they won't be as miserable. I definitely think doctors prescribe too often. Everyone made a bunch of other good points as well. I just think the majority of this wealth/prescription difference is actually the result of a real difference caused by environmental factors. I think almost anyone can develop depression. Some people are just more prone. The people we call "genetically depressed" may operate the same way as everyone else. It just takes much less to cause depression in them. Therefore, everyday things like forgetting keys can make them depressed. I'm no expert, of course.

The lesson here. I don't like poverty. Who does, though?

[Blart752]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhwu4pSLBRk&feature=mh_lolz&list=FLVzjsfXolojB9TS3bmD5oCw

This may or may not be relevant, an interesting perspective or history of psychiatry etc.

http://www.youtube.c...f/6/-RsgDD-_Eqc

this is gabor mate on adhd

[SashaSue]

Blart, how is this antimed crap relevant or useful to anyone?