By Lawrence H. Diller, M.D.; 242 pages. Subtitle: Sane Solutions for Troubled Kids With -- and Without -- Psychiatric Drugs
Medicating children for behavior problems can be a difficult subject to discuss, one that provokes strong emotions among parents, pro and con. Diller, author of Running on Ritalin, provides information about a host of psychiatric drugs while also offering caution as to their use. It’s thought-provoking stuff regardless of which side of the line you’re on.
- Relatively even-handed and nonjudgmental about a very hot topic.
- Offers information on medication side effects that can be hard to get from doctors.
- Considers other behavioral strategies to be used instead of or with medications.
- Tries to be realistic about school and family situations.
- Empowers parents to ask questions and consider a variety of factors.
- Parents who don't find their decisions agreed with here may still feel judged.
- Lengthy case studies may be hard to relate to.
- Author sometimes disagrees with parents in case studies, which may make for uncomfortable reading.
- No book can provide an absolute answer for your child or family.
- May be challenging to find a doctor in your community who's as open-minded.
- Part One: Eight Questions to Ask Yourself Before Accepting or Rejecting Medication
- Part Two: Specific Help for Specific Problems
(includes kids who act out, act in, and don't connect) - Part Three: Beyond Diagnosis and Drugs:
Toward a Moral Treatment of Behavior Problems in Children - A Quick Guide to the Psychiatric Drugs Most Commonly Prescribed for Children
- Index
If you have strong feelings about psychiatric medications for children, it’s not hard to find a book that agrees with you. Go to the Special Needs section of any bookstore or online bookseller and scan the titles, and it’s easy to pick out the ones that scream, “Meds are the answer!” and the ones that yell, “No, they’re not!” Unfortunately, though, the former tend to skim over any concerns about side effects, and the latter tend to blame all children’s problems on distracted, negligent parents. The real questions -- “Is this safe?” and “Is there a realistic alternative?" -- tend not to get thoughtfully answered.
That’s where “Should I Medicate My Child?” comes in. Dr. Diller, a behavioral pediatrician, has both prescribed medications and counseled against them, depending on the particular child and family, and so has a clear view of the subtle weighing of risks and rewards that has to go into any such decision. He recommends that parents make sure that the diagnosis is correct and that they have tried all reasonable parenting alternatives; and then goes ahead and gives the information on what drugs are out there, what the risks are, and how to deal with mundane problems like getting a child to swallow them.
In the end, only a parent can really weigh those risks and rewards, and can do it only for his or her own child. This book may not change any minds, but it does offer welcome practical advice, with a minimum of judgment. It’s good to have on hand.
