Childhood Mental Health Diagnosis in Manassas, VA
According to a 2020 study published by Girand, Litkowiec, and Sohn (2020), approximately 41% of youth ages 2 to 24 who were prescribed medication for ADHD were also given one or more other drugs for depression, anxiety, or another mood or behavioral disorder. The study found more than 50 different combinations of psychotropic medications were prescribed in various combinations, and half of the drugs were not approved for adolescents by the FDA (Richtel, 2022). Prescriptions of antidepressants for teenagers increased by 38% from 2015 to 2019.
According to the CDC, ADHD is the most prevalent childhood mental health diagnosis. In areas across the nation, one-third or more of children are reported to be taking psychostimulants because of academic pressure to succeed. Research shows that training is not required for many prescribing psychiatric medications, thus, there are untrained pediatricians, teachers, and providers using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria to make or recommend a diagnosis and prescribe a psychostimulant. Doctors are prescribing dangerous medications outside their competency. Even untrained teachers using the Conners ADHD Scale for Teachers (CADS-T) assessed students.
The average American life expectancy has fallen dramatically in comparison to other high-income countries, although, U.S. citizens pay significantly more for healthcare with worse outcomes. Nearly 334 million U.S. citizens were spending $2.3 trillion a year and received worse results (Abramson, 2023). The mental health system is contributing to many patients suffering or dying 15 – 25 years earlier than they would otherwise, due to pharmaceutical influence and their harmful drugs (Whitaker & Cosgrove, 2015). Better treatment is necessary, and a range of effective psychological and social approaches are available; ranging from family and cognitive therapy to primary prevention as noted by Read & Dillion (2013). The current system leads patients to harmful, long-term medications and side effects that result in various harms and brain atrophy leading to worsening health outcomes.
There is no single medical/biological test for ADHD, and this syndrome’s specific etiology is unknown (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2023). The pharmacological treatment for ADHD is psychomotor stimulant and non-stimulant medication, including methylphenidate and amphetamine. Exposure to psychomotor stimulants for ADHD in children is linked to aggression, addiction, suicidal/homicidal ideation, and the emergence of manic or new psychotic symptoms (e.g., bipolar and schizophrenia) along with other serious side effects (e.g., seizures, movement disorders, cognitive decline, slowing growth, anxiety, trouble sleeping, heart-related problems, overdose, and death) (Drug Enforcement Agency 2022; U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2023).
The pharmaceutical industry had financial conflict of interest ties to DSM taskforce and panel members that involved: 1). 80% of the ADHD criteria (classified under Neurodevelopmental Disorders); 2). 71% of the Bipolar Disorder criteria; 3). 83% of the Schizophrenic Spectrum and other Disorder criteria; 4). 100% of the Disruptive Impulse Control and Conduct Disorder criteria; 5). 89% of the Neurocognitive Disorder criteria; 6). 75% of the Movement Disorder criteria; 7). 80% of the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder criteria; along with 8). 100% of the Sleep-Wake Disorder criteria, for the DSM. (Davis et al., 2024)
Many other states have now realized the unsustainable pressure on their budgets can be eased by tackling the over-diagnosis of ADHD.
We must have change now!
