From Book News, Inc.
Wilens (psychiatry, Harvard Medical School) helps parents make informed decisions about giving children medication for emotional and behavioral problems and psychiatric conditions. Sections cover psychopharmalogical evaluation, diagnosis and treatment, common childhood psychiatric disorders, and different categories of medications. This third edition reflects advances in treatment and new ways of dealing with side effects, and includes tips on saving money on prescriptions.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Review
"A godsend for parents looking for answers. Wilens takes the mystery out of medication." -Time

"An informative guidebook....The author's straight talk about medications will help parents become 'informed collaborators' in their child's psychiatric care."--Publishers Weekly

"Even the best doctor cannot spend enough time explaining to each parent all of the information this book presents."--Parent Council

"Filled with helpful tables and charts, definitions, commonly asked questions, and sources for further information and support."--Library Journal



Book Description
Newly revised and expanded, this essential guide provides parents with the up-to-date information they need to fully understand what their child's doctor is recommending and what their options are. Packed with frequently asked questions, examples, and charts, the book explains which medications are prescribed for kids and why; their effects on health, emotions, and school performance; what parents can do to maximize their benefits; and when to consider other treatments instead.

Revised Edition Coverage Includes:
* New ways of dealing with side effects and protecting kids' safety
* Advances in treating specific disorders
* New and longer-acting medications that make administration easier
* Emerging research on long-term benefits and risks
* Tips for saving money on prescriptions
* Legislative and health care changes that affect children's treatment



About the Author
Timothy E. Wilens, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, specializes in pediatric and adult psychopharmacology in his clinical work at Massachusetts General Hospital. Board-certified in child, adolescent, adult, and addiction psychiatry, Dr. Wilens has conducted research and published widely on psychiatric medications.

ANNOTATION

The book contains black-and-white illustrations.

When is psychiatric medication the right choice for kids? Which side effects may be cause for concern? Does medication affect kids' personalities? What are the alternatives? Can medication lead to drug abuse? Psychiatric medications are being used with increasing confidence to treat a variety of child and adolescent disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and Tourette's syndrome. For parents, however, decideing whether to allow a child to take medication for an emotional or behavioral problem may be one of the toughest choices they will ever face. When a son or daughter needs help, parents need more than a brief medical consultation:and more than a prescription slip. This essential book provides the up-to-date information that will enable readers to fully understand what their child's doctor is recommending, and what their options are. With loads of real-life examples, answres to frequently asked questions, and helpful tables and charts, Harvard University reserarcher and practitioner Dr. Timothy Wilens explains which medications may be prescribed for children, and why; examines effects on children's health, emotions, and school performance; and helps readers become active, informed managers of their child's care.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Psychiatric medications are increasingly being used to treat a variety of common child and adolescent problems, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and Tourette's syndrome. But when your son or daughter needs help, you need more than a brief consultation with the doctor - and more than a prescription slip." "In this revised edition, Dr. Wilens combines the latest knowledge science has to offer with practical tips gleaned from his work with thousands of children and parents. You get the kind of balanced guidance that will help you truly understand your doctor's recommendations and make informed decisions about what's right for your child." "You also receive suggestions for talking to kids about medication use, addressing any worries they may have about treatment, and safeguarding their privacy at school." Dr. Wilens answers parents' most frequently asked questions, from deciding whether to use medication of managing your child's ongoing care.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

These three books explore the controversial phenomena of ADHD, which affects two million children in the United States, where about 80 percent of all Ritalin is consumed. Walker, a neurologist/psychiatrist, contends that parents are often intimidated into accepting Ritalin for their children before a complete diagnosis is made and more benign therapies tried. He posits many other causes of hyperactivity, evaluates nondrug therapies, and suggests ways parents can become advocates for their troubled children. Comparing Ritalin to cocaine, Walker classes it with other psychostimulants in terms of addiction and potentially lethal side effects. The broader field of child psychiatry is the domain of Wilens's book. A Harvard psychiatry professor, researcher, and clinician, he presents a valuable "insider's" guide to specific disorders (e.g., ADHD, depression, anxiety, autism). Filled with helpful tables and charts, definitions, commonly asked questions, and sources for further information and support, this book should empower parents to become collaborators in their children's care. Like Walker's compendium of responsible warnings, this user-friendly catalog of current drug information is recommended for public libraries. In contrast, DeGrandpre's (psychology, St. Michael's Coll., VT) scholarly work ventures beyond simple skepticism and quibbling about overdiagnosis to question psychiatry's identification of ADHD as a biologically based brain disease. He argues that societal adjustments and a change in human consciousness are the real antidotes for this development disorder. Viewing hyperactivity in a multidisciplinary context, Ritalin Nation is richly referenced and offers a critical perspective suited to academic and specialized collections. [See also "Paying Attention to Attention Deficit Disorders," LJ 1/99, p. 59-62.]--Antoinette Brinkman, Southwest Indiana Mental Health Ctr. Lib., Evansville

Booknews

Provides up-to-date information intended to allow parents to fully understand what drugs a doctor is recommending for their children. Covers common childhood psychiatric disorders including mood, anxiety, and developmental and behavioral disorders as well as the psychotropic drugs designed to treat them: stimulants, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antihypertensives, and antipsychotics. Written in an accessible style for general readership. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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