For kids, older antipsychotic drug may be better

In the world of mental health, newer drugs are often considered to be more effective than their older counterparts. When it comes to antipsychotic medication given to children, however, that might not be the case.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have found that the old standby molindone is as effective as olanzapine and risperidone in treating children and teenagers with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Currently, those latter two medications, known as second-generation drugs, are given to most children.

In studying the impact of the three (randomly assigned) drugs on 119 study participants ages 8 to 19, the researchers found no significant differences in response rates or symptom reduction. In the eight-week study period, 50% of those given molindone responded to the drug, compared with 34% for olanzapine and 46% for risperidone.

The newer drugs, however, were linked to significantly more weight gain.

"Medications make a vast difference in peoples' lives, but we need better treatment options," lead author Dr. Lin Sikich said in a news release.

The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry notes: "Schizophrenia is a life-long disease that can be controlled, but not cured." It lists the symptoms as they may appear in children, pointing out that they may differ from symptoms in adults, and adds information on medications for children.

The study was published today in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

-- Tami Dennis

Photo credit: Boris Yaro / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Danny Haszard]

Lilly Zyprexa ' Chemical Straitjacket' Use by Children.

Zyprexa,as well as the other atypical antipsychotics, are being prescribed for children, even though this is an unapproved, off-label use. Eli Lilly has been charged in allegedly pushing the drug for children in more than one state.

Recently a parent wrote to us about her two sons. She received pressure to place them on ADHD drugs as early as Head Start. Over the years, they were on a cocktail of various psychotropic drugs. At one time, they were place on Zyprexa and according to the mother more than doubled their body weight.

A report by Dr. Cooper at Vanderbilt University states that 2.5 million children are now taking atypical antipsychotics. Over half are being given them for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Perhaps it is statistics like these that caused the FDA to finally require warnings on the labels of the ADHD drugs.

The use of atypical antipsychotics for children should be banned.

St. Petersburg Times Reports on Zyprexa A risky drug may get wider marketThe FDA may approve Zyprexa for kids, despite its significant side effects in adult use. By ROBERT FARLEY, Times Staff ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuK1t474ei4

Daniel Haszard Zyprexa patient who got diabetes from it.

http://www.zyprexa-victims.com

[Harold A. Maio]

In the world of "mental" health, newer drugs are often considered to be more effective than their older counterparts.

I am puzzled by your modifier, "mental," Is there purpose to it?

[Tami Dennis]

Other studies have pointed out that drugs used to treat physical health conditions are not always better than their newer, more heavily marketed counterparts. This study -- and the general topic -- pertains to mental health.

[Anonymous]

"Schizophrenia is a life-long disease that can be controlled, but not cured."

This seems to apply to a number of conditions, such as bipolar disorder, that are defined by the profession itself. The problem with some of these definitions is that they are self-fulfilling and circular. If schizophrenia is defined as being incurable, then no one will look for a cure. Since the condition is defined by behavior, then - once a diagnosis is applied - all behavior is seen as symptomatic of the condition.

DL Rosenhan's classic study, "On Being Sane In Insane Places" shows exactly how this works. Experienced doctors could not tell when people exhibiting symptoms of schizophrenia - and then labeled as such - returned to normal behavior.

One of the problems with modern pharmacological research would seem to be that it is considered unethical to conduct studies on healthy people. That is, once one has been diagnosed as being mentally ill, *all abnormal behavior* is still attributed to the illness.

But how can one be sure that the medications themselves are not contributing, unless studies have been done on people without any previous history of illness?

Perhaps the psychiatrists of this world could start taking the medications they prescribe and have others observe their behavior, especially after they change medications or stop abruptly.