The Pill Predicament: Should we medicate our kids to change their behavior?
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DEFINING BEHAVIORAL DISORDERSUnsure of the difference between ADHD, ADD, ODD and CD? This guide will help.
- ADHD and ADD are often used interchangeably, although ADD refers specifically to attention-deficit disorder without hyperactivity. Common features of ADHD include distractability, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Some studies indicate that boys are diagnosed with ADHD more often than girls by a ratio of 10 to 1.
- ODD, opposition defiant disorder, refers to a child who is often defiant, stubborn, noncompliant or belligerent. Some children are diagnosed as having ADHD and ODD.
- CD, conduct disorder, is defined as a serious pattern of antisocial behavior, such as fighting, bullying, lying or stealing. A troubling trend, notes Annelle B. Primm, M.D., of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, is the growing popularity of this diagnosis for Black children. "Conduct disorder is usually indicative of something else the clinician should look for," she says. If your child is diagnosed as having CD, get a second opinion to rule out any other possible psychiatric causes such as depression.
Here are common pharmacological drugs used to reduce symptoms attributed to ADHD and their side effects:
STIMULANTS Common brands: Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall, Cylert How they work: Increase brain activity, resulting in alertness and attention. What to know: Side effects may include decreased appetite, insomnia, headaches and mood changes. Ritalin has been linked to depression; Cylert has been linked to liver failure; and in February Canada suspended sales of Adderall XR after reports of sudden unexplained deaths of 20 U.S. children and adults who were taking the medication.
NONSTIMULANT Common brand: Strattera How it works: Increases access to a brain chemical thought to regulate impulse control and attention. What to know: It's not an FDA-controlled substance. Takes longer to start working, compared with stimulants. Side effects may include upset stomach, decreased appetite, dizziness, fatigue, mood swings. Long-term risks are unclean.
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