Psychotropic Medication and Children in Foster Care - American Bar ...

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Table 3:Common Symptoms ofMental Health Disturbances in ChildrenVarious symptoms are often seen in the mental health disturbances of children and teens.These are symptoms that advocates and caregivers should be aware of to better understandwhat is atypical and a red flag for further evaluation. Symptoms can be brought about throughdifferent ways, illnesses can manifest differently in children, and multiple mental health issuesmay co-exist.Behavioral• Excessive crying• Aggression• Self-abuse, i.e., biting orhitting self, head banging• Destruction of property• Defiance/arguing• Inability to managebehavior in a classroom• Suicidal attempts• Severe/frequent tantrumsAffective/Emotional• Profound sadness• Lack of eye contact• No or few expressions of joy• Lethargy• Suicidal ideationBiobehavioral• Refusal to eat• Sleep disruptions• Exaggerated startleresponse• Bedwetting• Wetting/soiling pants• Extreme distractionBenefits of Psychotropic MedicationsMedications make life easier for many children and adults everyday. Medicationssave lives, relieve pain, manage troublesome symptoms, and help people improvetheir ability to function in the world. These medications specifically target symptomsand issues associated with mental illness and mental health.• Thought disorders, such as schizophrenia, can often be helped bymedications such as resperidone (Risperdal), which promotes the abilityto think more clearly and function at a higher level.• Mood disorders, such as depression, can be helped with medicationssuch as sertraline (Zoloft), which help regulate emotions and address basicissues like sleep and concentration.• Behavior disorders, such as conduct disorder, can often be helpedwith anti-anxiety medications such as atenolol (Tenormin), to help manageaggressive outbursts.• Attention disorders, such as attention deficit disorder, can be managedwith medications such as amphetamines (Adderal) to improve focus,increase concentration ability, and decrease vulnerability to distraction.12 Psychotropic Medication and Children in Foster Care
Drawbacks of Psychotropic MedicationsNo medication comes without risk of side effects or other interferences in thebody. Some antidepressants can reduce the ability to experience emotions, evenpleasurable emotions, and can eliminate interest in sex. 3Behavior management medications often cause drowsiness and withdrawn behavior.Attention disorder medications can interfere with appetite or sleep andcreate additional problems for a child. Some psychotropic medications cause tics,nightmares, and even some of the same symptoms they aim to help, such as hearingvoices. Some medications used to treat thought disorders can cause lifelongside effects that do not go away even when the medication is stopped. Theseside effects can include things like repetitively smacking one’s lips or other oddmovements.No medicationcomes without riskof side effects orother interferencesin the body.Antipsychotic medications such as resperidone (Risperdal) or olanzapine (Zyprexa)as well as some of the mood stabilizing agents and antidepressants can cause weightgain to varying degrees. A few pounds can profoundly impact the developingchild’s self-esteem, performance, and relationships. Some medications are linkedto obesity, even when used for only a few months. Not only does weight gain impactself confidence but it also places children and teens at risk for diabetes, heartdisease, eating disorders, and a lack of compliance with treatment recommendations.Rapid weight gain also decreases the motivation to exercise, the desire tosocialize, and the ability to engage in typical physical activities. Weight gain withpsychotropic medications is a serious issue that needs to be taken into account.In children and adolescents, medications can sometimes be used to help diagnosemental health conditions. For example, when a child has a difficult time payingattention in class, is falling behind with school work, and is having severe tantrumsinvolving aggression, diagnoses such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,post traumatic stress disorder, depression, or even bipolar disorder might be considered.A stimulant typically used to treat ADHD may be tried to see if the childresponds well to the treatment and the symptoms come under control. The successfuluse of the medication helps to secure the ADHD diagnosis. If, however, achild is thought to be bipolar and is placed on aripiprazole (Abilify) or lithium withno effects or worsening of symptoms, the diagnosis of bipolar disorder may beruled out and alternative diagnoses will be considered.13
Page 3 and 4: &PracticePolicy BriefPsychotropicMe
Page 5 and 6: Children who enter foster care face
Page 7 and 8: Table 1:Common School-age Child and
Page 9 and 10: A Multimodal Approach to ManagingMe
Page 11 and 12: Table 2:Psychotropic MedicationsTyp
Page 13: Typical Side Effects Symptoms/Medic
Page 17 and 18: Josh, age 5Josh was on multiple med
Page 19 and 20: Off-Label UseMany medications used
Page 21 and 22: While the age of consent for childr
Page 23 and 24: Side Effects of Psychotropic Medica
Page 25 and 26: 6. Prescribers should be cautious w
Page 27: Medication and thePregnant TeenPreg
Page 30 and 31: • Who will monitor the ongoing us
Page 32 and 33: ConclusionMedications improve lives
Page 34: 32 Psychotropic Medication and Chil

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