Straight Talk about Psychiatric Medications for Kids (Paperback)

~ Timothy E. Wilens MD (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Harvard researcher and practitioner Wilens presents a straightforward view of the medication options available to children with emotional, developmental and behavioral disorders. Parents coping with the weighty decisions surrounding the issue of pharmacotherapy for children will find this an informative guidebook. Wilens answers common questions parents ask when a practitioner prescribes a medication for their child and gives practical information on how to weigh the risks and benefits, including keeping a medication log to track a particular medication's efficacy. A helpful section of the book describes each disorder (schizophrenia, conduct disorder, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc.) and outlines the possible treatment plans, including information on specific drugs and their side effects. While some of the treatment plans may sound frightening (one child sampled nine different medications before reaching an effective treatment for anxiety and ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), Wilens's intent is clearly to educate parents concerning the complicated nature and treatment of many of these disorders. The author's straight talk about medications will help parents become "informed collaborators" in their child's psychiatric care.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

These three books explore the controversial phenomena of ADHD, which affects two million children in the United States, where about 80 percent of all Ritalin is consumed. Walker, a neurologist/psychiatrist, contends that parents are often intimidated into accepting Ritalin for their children before a complete diagnosis is made and more benign therapies tried. He posits many other causes of hyperactivity, evaluates nondrug therapies, and suggests ways parents can become advocates for their troubled children. Comparing Ritalin to cocaine, Walker classes it with other psychostimulants in terms of addiction and potentially lethal side effects. The broader field of child psychiatry is the domain of Wilens's book. A Harvard psychiatry professor, researcher, and clinician, he presents a valuable "insider's" guide to specific disorders (e.g., ADHD, depression, anxiety, autism). Filled with helpful tables and charts, definitions, commonly asked questions, and sources for further information and support, this book should empower parents to become collaborators in their children's care. Like Walker's compendium of responsible warnings, this user-friendly catalog of current drug information is recommended for public libraries. In contrast, DeGrandpre's (psychology, St. Michael's Coll., VT) scholarly work ventures beyond simple skepticism and quibbling about overdiagnosis to question psychiatry's identification of ADHD as a biologically based brain disease. He argues that societal adjustments and a change in human consciousness are the real antidotes for this development disorder. Viewing hyperactivity in a multidisciplinary context, Ritalin Nation is richly referenced and offers a critical perspective suited to academic and specialized collections. [See also "Paying Attention to Attention Deficit Disorders," LJ 1/99, p. 59-62.]?Antoinette Brinkman, Southwest Indiana Mental Health Ctr. Lib., Evansvill.
-?Antoinette Brinkman, Southwest Indiana Mental Health Ctr. Lib., Evansville
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572302046
• ISBN-13: 978-1572302044
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #831,246 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A really helpful and readable book, December 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Straight Talk about Psychiatric Medications for Kids (Hardcover)

As a parent I found this to be a really helpful book in understanding what was wrong with my son. It was also comforting to know about the different drugs, how they work, and if they were safe. It is the best book about childrens problems I have read.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A useful book for both parents and professionals, May 20, 2001

By	Carol Watkins "Psychiatrist" (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When parents want to know more about medications for their child's disorder, I often refer them to this book.

The book is organized by type of disorder (such as AD/HD, depression or anxiety) and by type of medication. This is good because some people want to know about a specific class of medications, while others want an overview of medication strategies for a particular disorder.

I particularly liked his suggestions on communication between parent and psychiatrist. This should help parents formulate their questions and feel comfortable asking them.

This book is also an excellent overview for medical residents and non-medical mental health professionals.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An easy to read, understandable, and very helpful book, December 21, 1998

By A Customer

This book really helped me and my family understand what was going on with our 11 year old son. We were scared to use medications but after reading the book, we felt much better about the decision and our son is doing much better now. I am impressed that the book answers most all of our questions and has been useful for talking with my son's doctor. I definitely recommend this to anyone who has a child who is not doing well in school or has a behavioral problem.