| In today's mental health system there is a | | | | of being labeled with 20 assorted diagnoses. |
| pattern of fraud and coercion that takes way | | | | She was given Risperdal as well as Ritalin. |
| the freedoms and dignity of children and | | | | The mother reported that the child has |
| their families. Children are receiving | | | | tardive dyskinesia and was experiencing |
| stigmatizing labels and being prescribed | | | | tremors. The response was to eliminate |
| psychotropic drugs with many untoward | | | | Risperdal and replace it with a different |
| effects. Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz, MD made | | | | neuroleptic. This child is now permanently |
| the comment that if an individual hit us with | | | | disfigured, and will probably never fully |
| a blackjack and robbed us of our dignity we | | | | recover from the damage done in the name of |
| would call them thugs, yet psychiatrists | | | | 'help'.I was doing an observation of one of |
| label and drug children and rob them of their | | | | my clients in a school setting when I took |
| dingity and nothing is said. All in the name | | | | note of another child who began a |
| of profit. Rarely, if never are the families | | | | conversation with me and in the process was |
| given informed consent. Szasz has also | | | | showing facial grimaces and constant |
| stated, "From a sociological point of view, | | | | repetitive blinking. I pulled the teacher |
| psychiatry is a secular institution to | | | | aside and asked her to examine the child for |
| regulate domestic relations. From my point of | | | | a minute and tell me if she witnessed |
| view, it is child abuse." Families are | | | | anything out of the ordinary. "Well, he keeps |
| provided with literature that appears so | | | | making faces and twitching." I asked her, |
| matter of fact but is funded by the | | | | "Why may that be?" "Well, um, I do not |
| pharmaceutical companies and tainted with | | | | know!". I asked her to see what medication |
| their bias. According to the Pughkeepsie | | | | the child was taking and if it might be a |
| Journal, the 'support' or should it be said | | | | 'blue pill'. She asked the child and indeed |
| front group for Children diagnosed with | | | | he was taking Adderall, the cause of all his |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder | | | | grimaces and contortion. What a price to pay |
| received substantial funds from the | | | | to get a child to 'function' in class!I was |
| pharmaceutical companies: "CHADD received | | | | presented with a child who the teacher |
| $315,000 from drug companies in the year | | | | insisted was ADHD. The school guidance |
| ending June 2000, about 12 percent of its | | | | counselor was called in and told the mother, |
| budget."Children are being beaten, improperly | | | | "without a doubt, he is ADHD and could |
| restrained, physically and sexually abused, | | | | benefit from Ritalin. It helps with academic |
| and emotionally scarred in residential | | | | improvement." I asked the school guidance |
| treatment programs. Juvenile probation | | | | counselor if he had actually met the child or |
| officials are failing to understand the | | | | was going on reports. "No, I have yet to meet |
| emotional distress of our children, they are | | | | him." I then asked him if he could name a |
| submitting to this "psychiatric Gestapo". | | | | study that proved that academic performance |
| Educators rather than finding new methods of | | | | could be enhanced and how he was so sure of |
| shaping our children's learning are falling | | | | the ADHD diagnosis." He responded that he |
| into the trap of psychiatric 'solutions' as | | | | knew of no such study and that such diagnosis |
| well. Never could it be that a school has | | | | was based on teacher reports. Where is the |
| simply failed to help a child learn, rather | | | | science in that? I explained further that |
| it is always the child denigrated and labeled | | | | studies have actuallt shown that short term |
| as 'disordered'. There are loving and | | | | improvement in rote learning does occur, but |
| concerned parents, and there are others who | | | | that no long term improvement has ever been |
| lack love and compassion towards their | | | | shown. The family sought a second opinion |
| children. There are loving and concerned | | | | from a different psychologist who stated he |
| parents who become duped by the | | | | saw nothing and sent the boy on his way. In |
| 'professionals'. Below are some actual | | | | this situation, I saw that the child was |
| stories of experiences in my work as a | | | | bright and that he learned in a way that the |
| therapist with children as well as one story | | | | teacher just plainly was not providing. This |
| submitted to me by a concerned and struggling | | | | idea was reinforced when the following year |
| parent. I share them to give some perspective | | | | with a different teacher his academic |
| as to what is occurring.I share this scenario | | | | performance dramatically increased with no |
| because sadly it is becoming a frightening | | | | intervention.I worked with a delightful 5 |
| reality: A child is considered overly active | | | | year old child. Prior to him being referred |
| and has behavioral issues at school. The | | | | to me, he had been on Risperdal. He had |
| school staff may recommend psychiatric | | | | convulsions in the classroom and was taken to |
| intervention and even go as far as to say | | | | the emergency room. I happened to read the |
| that medication is necessary, even | | | | hospital report and it was deemed that these |
| designating which one. The child sees the | | | | convulsions were a direct effect of the |
| psychiatrist for a brief session- t is never | | | | Risperdal. The mother was unfortunately an |
| examined if the child has any physical | | | | unconcerned parent, and there were frequent |
| conditions, allergies, etc. Immediately the | | | | calls made to Child protective Services |
| child is labeled and given a dose of | | | | regarding abuse by herself and her paramour. |
| psychostimulant. The child develops side | | | | I found it immensely difficult to work in the |
| effects such as weight loss, insomnia, and | | | | home with this mother, and after seeing the |
| possible tics. In order to counteract the | | | | child with brusing, I too called the Child |
| insomnia, a new drug such as Klonidine is | | | | Protective Services but each time they found |
| added. The child develops emotional lability | | | | the cases unfounded. I would take the child |
| and has crying episodes and manic behaviors. | | | | into the community for my sessions. The |
| The psychiatrist is seen again for a brief | | | | mother had described him as a 'little brat', |
| time, and on this visit its determined that | | | | a 'monster', and a kid 'who didnt deserve |
| 'bipolar is emerging'. The child is then | | | | sh-t'. She described all these negative |
| given Depakote or some other mood stablizer. | | | | behaviors in the home and yet I never saw one |
| The child now must receive regular blood | | | | of them in his time with me. Occassionally he |
| tests to insure that liver toxicity does not | | | | would have some difficulty in the classroom, |
| arise. The child is not overly active, he is | | | | but with some guidance and redirection, |
| quite docile, so it is reported that | | | | problems were always averted. It broke my |
| improvement has occurred. However, with the | | | | heart to see that within 5 minutes of me |
| combination of drugs, he develops some | | | | dropping him off at home he would be in |
| psychotic like symptoms where he feels | | | | tears. The mother requested me to leave this |
| something is crawling on him and has some | | | | case, and I reluctantly agreed and |
| hallucinations. The psychiatrist is consulted | | | | transferred it to a colleague and friend. My |
| again, and its determined that bipolar with | | | | colleague informed me that the paramour was |
| psychotic features exists or maybe even the | | | | caught sexually abusing the child, and the |
| possibility of childhood schizophrenia. The | | | | child was taken to foster care. I feel that |
| child is then given Risperdal or another | | | | foster care should certainly be a last |
| neuroleptic. Strangely, the child begins | | | | option, but here it was a blessing. I |
| developing unusual jaw movements and muscle | | | | recommended that at least one member of the |
| rigidity. The parents are concerned and ask | | | | therapeutic staff he was familiar with |
| the psychiatrist if this is medication | | | | continue to work with him in the new setting |
| related and if the child is overmedicated. | | | | and I offered to go and visit him to help |
| The psychiatrist brushes off the question and | | | | with his adjustment. Though it will take some |
| prescribes Cogentin (used for Parkinson's) to | | | | time for him to adjust, I think it will be a |
| alleviate the neurological problems but fails | | | | fresh new start, as he is in a place where |
| to remove the offending agent. The child's | | | | maybe for once he will receive love and |
| behavior becomes more unusual and bizarre | | | | compassion.TARDIVE DYSKINESIAI was presented |
| leading to hospitalization where medications | | | | with a very difficult child who had received |
| are raised and adjusted and new ones added. | | | | multiple psychiatric diagnoses and who had |
| Then the recommendation comes from the | | | | been in residential mental health treatment |
| psychiatrist that it would be better for the | | | | for the majority of his life. This child had |
| child to be moved to a residential treatment | | | | been heavily medicated and was exhibiting |
| facility. While in the residential facility, | | | | slurred speech, poor motor coordination, |
| the child is frequently restrained and is | | | | inner feelings of agitation, and unusual jaw |
| injured, he is placed with other children | | | | motions and tics. The family was told of the |
| with serious emotional and behaviorla | | | | possibility of tardive dyskinesia. This also |
| distress. he is discharged home having | | | | became a concern of a psychologist who |
| absorbed alot of new negative behaviors from | | | | observed him. Unfortunately, the parents |
| peers, lacking knowledge of the outside | | | | stated they were never given informed consent |
| world, and with few skills. So, once the | | | | about potential side effects and had never |
| child nears adulthood, it is recommended that | | | | heard of the term 'tardive dyskinesia'. This |
| he live in a group home where he can be cared | | | | neurological problem is a significant problem |
| for and the psychiatric regiment can be | | | | affecting individuals taking neuroleptic |
| maintained. The child has been 'treated.'This | | | | medications.HOUNDED FOR MY VIEWSI had |
| is all based on true incidents with names | | | | contracted with a private agency as a |
| changed to preserve confidentiality.I worked | | | | therapist. The clients I worked with had |
| with a teen who had experienced sexual trauma | | | | developmental challenges. There was much |
| by a relative. The relative was arrested and | | | | progress made and one client's parents gave |
| sentenced. The teen was asked to attend the | | | | me very positive feedback. However, the |
| setencing hearing and prior began acting out | | | | agency supervisor upon learning that my |
| at school. She had an incident where she left | | | | approach was to promote psychosocial |
| the classroom to de-escalate after an | | | | alternatives as well as to give parents |
| argument with a teacher. She was restrained | | | | informed consent, this became a point of |
| by a rather obese school staff. The teen | | | | contention. This resulted in their desire to |
| explained to me that sher was frustrated with | | | | try to terminate the contract, though nothing |
| the school because a number of boys were | | | | stipulated within the contract was ever |
| exposing themselves to her and knew about her | | | | violated. This shows intolerance for anything |
| sexual trauma and that school staff did not | | | | but the pro-drugging stance as well as |
| respond. She was charged with disorderly | | | | unwillingness to be open-minded to the fact |
| conduct and had to appear before a juvenile | | | | that workable alternatives do indeed exist. |
| judge. The judge was made aware of her sexual | | | | This shows the sad state of affairs of the |
| trauma and her need to be at the sentencing | | | | current mental health system.THE POSITIVE |
| hearing. He locked her in juvenile detention | | | | STORIES:* A four year old presented with |
| for 10 days and said, 'we will transport her | | | | speech difficulties and the expression of |
| from detention to the hearing." The teen ahd | | | | explosive behavior where he would when |
| no previous juvenile arrests. In this | | | | frustrated hurl objects across room, have |
| situation, Attorney Jana Markus was also | | | | difficulties with aggression towards peers |
| became involved and after consulting with the | | | | and siblings, and frequently need redirection |
| District Attorney's office was able to secure | | | | to remain on task. Over a period of one year, |
| her release and to encourage that she be | | | | this child has now been discharged. The child |
| recommended for homebound education. The | | | | no longer has aggressive episodes, is being |
| school district has agreed not without some | | | | recommended for discharge from early |
| contention, particularly trying to continue | | | | intervention services, and is currently only |
| to charge the teen with truancy for the time | | | | requiring the aid of a speech therapist. The |
| between her leaving the school and obtaining | | | | focus remained on providing this child and |
| the recommendation of homebound education.I | | | | their family with opportunities for building |
| received a call from a mother who had a very | | | | relationship, developing adaptive responses |
| young child who was displaying some | | | | to frustration, and improving communication |
| aggressive behaviors which caused the day | | | | skills. This child was never exposed to any |
| care to have the child removed until | | | | psychotropic medication, but a responsible, |
| therapeutic services could be provided. The | | | | compassionate, and dignified plan of |
| mother took the child to one agency and was | | | | psychosocial action was provided. The TSS |
| told, "you better medicate this child before | | | | involved with this child must be commended |
| he tries to kill someone." The mother was | | | | for her wonderful work!*a 10 year old child |
| appalled. I later spoke to this mother by | | | | presented with explosive episodes in school |
| phone and explained my therapeutic approach. | | | | as well as making various threats to peers. |
| She told me her situation and the response | | | | The school and psychiatrist intially saw this |
| she had received. As I spoke with her at | | | | as a hopeless case requiring him to be placed |
| length, she said, "You really care about | | | | in partial hospitalization. Dan Edmunds |
| children." I appreciated this comment but at | | | | advocated heavily for this child to remain in |
| the same time was saddened as I thought, | | | | his present placement in school. He receives |
| shouldn't this be said about every person in | | | | support of a TSS as well as occupational |
| the mental health profession? What has gone | | | | therapy and with some bumps in the road has |
| wrong?A client who is a physician and his | | | | responded well and has been able to be |
| wife related that they sought assistance with | | | | maintained within the school environment with |
| their child diagnosed with autism and wanted | | | | a great deal of success.* a 5 year old who |
| assistance in aiding him with communication | | | | presented with risky and destructive |
| skills. They saw a psychiatrist who visited | | | | behaviors and sevee problems in social skills |
| with them fr less than 10 minutes and began | | | | in now building friendships and is praised by |
| writing a script for antipsychotic | | | | his teacher with frequent awards for his |
| medication. When the parents noted that they | | | | conduct and academic performance. The family |
| were not there for medications, the | | | | has gained a greater awareness of his |
| psychiatrist became belligerent and asked, | | | | difficulties and has been supportive. This |
| 'then what do you want and why are you | | | | child receives no psychotropic medications |
| here?"A staff of a agency working with | | | | but has benefited from a treatment plan which |
| mentally challenged adults related to me that | | | | entails the principles outlined in "Entering |
| the supervisors insisted that a client in the | | | | Their Imaginative World".* a 13 year old boy |
| residential program was non-verbal and unable | | | | whose mother was addicted to heroin and who |
| to communicate. This client was left | | | | lived in a chaotic environment experienced |
| frequently to sit and watch television for | | | | problems with truancy and aggression. For a |
| hours and privided with no real attention or | | | | period of 6 months, I developed a plan to |
| work on skills development. The staff stated | | | | work on his ability to express his |
| that she sought to engage the client in | | | | frustration more effectively, helping him to |
| dialogue and found that he was far from | | | | realize his self worth and his ability to |
| non-verbal and after some work was able to | | | | assess himself and make appropriate choices. |
| write his name and other words.In visiting an | | | | I examined his strengths and tried to help |
| agency working with mentally challenged | | | | him capitalize on them. He made a difficult |
| youth, I discovered that many of these | | | | transition to foster care, and I advocated he |
| youth's needs were completely ignored. I | | | | be placed in a home where he could attend a |
| recall two incidents of seeing a young girl | | | | school he is familiar with. Since this, his |
| seated in a chair, the staff gave her paper | | | | grades have been above average, he has made |
| and markers, and she would sit in the same | | | | friendships, and no longer has the problems |
| chair for hours. Every visit she would be | | | | with aggression. We had frequent, open, and |
| seated in the same spout with no one | | | | honest conversations about his pain and the |
| providing attention. Staff would walk past | | | | difficulties he has experienced. This 13 year |
| her and she would try to reach for them or | | | | old was discharged and continues to progress |
| hug them. I always made sure to stop and hug | | | | successfully.Many children today who show any |
| her and comment on her drawings. In addition, | | | | type of inappropriate behaviors are often |
| a young boy would pace incessantly around the | | | | immediately being labeled as ADHD and being |
| building, once again being provided no | | | | prescribed stimulant medications such as |
| attention, and no real work being done to aid | | | | Ritalin, Adderall, or Dexedrine among others. |
| this child in skill development."FAT AND | | | | First, ADHD is a complete fraud. There is no |
| IGNORANT" I was presented with a child who | | | | test for ADHD and neurological testing shows |
| was having some serious behavioral issues at | | | | these children to be perfectly normal. Dr. |
| school. I began to examine the situation and | | | | William Carey of Children's Hospital in |
| my assessment was that this child was in | | | | Philadelpha states, "common assumptions about |
| conflict with his teacher and this was the | | | | ADHD include that it is clearly |
| only cause for the behavioral issues. This | | | | distinguishable from normal behavior, |
| child had been previously placed on Ritalin | | | | constitutes a neurodevelopmental (brain) |
| which was actually cpurt ordered. The child | | | | disability, is relatively uninfluenced by the |
| had a very adverse reaction and fortunatelt | | | | environment (home, school)...all of these |
| was removed. As I have mentioned about the | | | | assumptions...must be challenged because of |
| fraud of ADHD, this child I was convinced had | | | | the lack of empirical support and the |
| no brain disorder as the biological | | | | strength of contrary evidence...what is now |
| psychiatrists would like us to think. This | | | | described in the US as ADHD is a set of |
| child was actually quite bright and was on | | | | normal behavioral variations..This |
| the borderline for qualifying for MENSA. I | | | | discrepancy leaves the validity (of ADHD) in |
| began to look at the dynamics at school, as | | | | doubt."The U.S. National Institutes of Health |
| it was only here that he posed a problem. I | | | | Consensus Development Conference on ADHD in |
| learned as well that this child was witness | | | | 1998 reported, " we have do not have an |
| to abuse and was suffering from Post | | | | independent, valid test for ADHD, and there |
| Traumatic Stress Disorder. So, as I thought | | | | are no data to indicate that ADHD is due to a |
| further I saw that the teacher was only | | | | brain malfunction...and finally, after years |
| aggravating this by his actions. The teacher | | | | of clinical research and experience with |
| showed hostility to this child and made him a | | | | ADHD, our knowledge about the cause or causes |
| target, even writing in a journal that the | | | | of ADHD remains speculative." Further, Dr. |
| child was 'fat and ignorant." Was it any | | | | Edward C. Hamlyn, a founding member of the |
| wonder that the child exhibited behavioral | | | | Royal College of General Practicioners in |
| issues in a classroom where he was treated | | | | 1998 stated, "ADHD is fraud intended to |
| with no dignity? As I suspected, this child | | | | justify starting children on a life of drug |
| was moved to a different school environment | | | | addiction." The U.S. Surgeon General Report |
| where he excelled. The "ADHD" symptoms all | | | | declares, "the exact etiolgoy of ADHD is |
| disappeared, so much for theories about a | | | | unknown." Lastly, Dr. Joe Kosterich, Federal |
| brain disorder.I received a call from a | | | | Chair of the Australian Medical Association |
| mother who explained to me that her child was | | | | states, " "The diagnosis of ADD is entirely |
| in a residential facility and only recently | | | | subjective.... There is no test. It is just |
| was determined to have a diagnosis of | | | | down to interpretation. |
| Pervasive Developmental Disorder after years | | | | |