Prior to beginning work on this discussion, read the required chapters from the text and review the required articles for this week.
The risk-benefit calculation for any drug assumes a correct diagnosis of the disorder. Many investigators and clinicians feel the current epidemic of child psychiatric disorders is largely due to inappropriate diagnosis. Evaluate the risk and benefits of using psychoactive drugs in children correctly diagnosed with a disorder versus those incorrectly diagnosed with a disorder. Consider the risks and benefits of not treating (drug treatment) a child because they are not correctly diagnosed with a disorder. In your evaluation summarize the natural course of the disorder, the drug action on the neurotransmitter systems in question, and the likelihood of short-term, long-term, and permanent positive and negative effects of drug treatment. Make sure to take into account the ethical dimension of this risk-benefit calculation.
Textbook: Advokat, C. D., Comaty, J. E., & Julien, R. M. (2018). Julien’s primer of drug action: A comprehensive guide to the actions, uses, and side effects of psychoactive drugs (14th ed.). Worth Publishers.
- Chapter 13: Anxiolytics, Sedative Hypnotic, Anesthetics, and Anticonvulsants
- Chapter 14: Drugs Used to Treat Bipolar Disorder
- Chapter 15: Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology