Dr. Henry Paul, MD

Psychiatrist, Author and Educator

WHY MEDICATION?

March 24th, 2015

I do not believe that every child with a mental disorder needs medication, but I do feel strongly that some do. To withhold these important therapeutic agents can be harmful and, in some cases, tragic. However, I fully understand why parents are often anxious, hesitant, and concerned about their children’s welfare. All too often, such feelings arise from the biased, misleading, and even fabricated stories that are conveyed through the media and on the Internet.

I have experience prescribing almost all of the current psychotropic drugs and have treated children and teenagers with all the varied disorders listed in the diagnostic manuals. I have seen the therapeutic effects of medication when administered properly, the harmful effects when they are abused or prescribed incorrectly, and have observed the side effects that very rarely occur.

In my book, When Kids Need Meds, I try to alleviate some of the misconceptions and the fears. I discuss the mental disorders, explain the process of psychiatric evaluation, answer the many questions, and talk about stimulants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, sleep medications, and anti-anxiety drugs. I focus on the importance of non-medication therapies, too. I also provide references for readers to obtain more information.

Friendly and easy to use and read, this guide covers almost every aspect of an extremely important and very prevalent topic to educate, comfort and provide support. I believe parents will find it invaluable.

Now through the month of April I am offering free copies of my book. If you are interested in a copy please email me at drpaul@henrypaulmd.com.

Here is a link to an excerpt from the book.

Disclaimer
This blog is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical or psychiatric advice for individual conditions or treatment and does not substitute for a medical or psychiatric examination. A psychiatrist must make a determination about any treatment or prescription. Dr. Paul does not assume any responsibility or risk for the use of any information contained within this blog.

PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION USE AMONG ADOLESCENTS

March 18th, 2015

I came across an interesting study this week that I want to share. Although, it has been out about a year, the information provided in it is quite interesting and still relevant. At the end of 2013, it was reported that more than six percent of adolescents were taking psychotropic medications. These medications are to help treat the symptoms of a mental disorder. Depression and ADHD are the most common mental health disorders among adolescents.

I have often stated that these drugs are not a cure-all but rather aid in alleviating symptoms. Suppressing the symptoms provides a child the opportunity to develop better life-skills and strategies to deal with their disorder. The hope is that, with time and teaching, they will develop the ability to manage their disorder without medication.

Remember, a mental disorder is a group of signs or symptoms the psychotropic drugs treat. Many psychiatrists, myself included, see these signs and symptoms as only part of the overall problem. Much like a fever – signs and symptoms are an indicator of an underlying and not so obvious condition. I believe, as do many of my peers, that the underlying condition is as important to diagnose and treat, as are the signs and symptoms.

So what are underlying conditions? To believe in the concept of “underlying”, you must be open to another concept: the unconscious mind – the belief that we have thoughts and feelings of which we are unaware. Freud’s discovery of the unconscious mind entered mainstream psychiatry over a century ago. My clinical experience, as well as that of my thousands of colleagues who work every day in the curious world of underlying issues, makes it clear that signs and symptoms have their origins deeper in the personality.

What is their cause? In a nutshell, I believe that stresses in early life can lead to unresolved conflicts and anxiety. Many of us outgrow these difficulties as we mature. For others, the underlying tension leads to signs and symptoms that we call mental disorders. Which signs and symptoms we develop are based mostly on our genetic makeup. We can treat the symptoms very well with psychotropic medication, but it is almost always necessary to explore the underlying issues to free a person to develop to their full potential.

I believe that parents should not be afraid to give their adolescent medication when it is recommended by a medical professional. I almost never prescribe medication without a recommendation for psychotherapy, too. For many children and teenagers, the symptoms are so bad that therapy can’t even take place until the medication brings some relief.

After treating children and adolescents for more than 30 years, I can tell you first-hand that medication is most helpful to symptom relief. It will often give an adolescent enough of a reprieve from their symptoms to gain from other therapies. From talk therapy to special educational settings, these therapies can lead to a better quality of life for the adolescent and the family.

Click here to read the report.

When Kids Need Meds; Everything a Parent Needs to Know About Psychiatric Medication and Youngsters

WHO IS THAT EXPERT ANYWAY?

October 15th, 2014

Over the years, parents have come into my practice questioning whether-or-not medication is necessary, and safe, for their child. They listen to the radio, see an expert on television, or find a website or blog online, and all of a sudden they are not sure what to believe. Parents have become frightened about medicating their child. Here are some comments that I received from parents worried about medication:

“These drugs are harmful – we don’t even know how they work.”
“There is nothing really wrong with my child; it’s just a bit of extreme behavior, certainly not a disorder.”
“My neighbor’s daughter died from that medication.”
“I heard these medications are addictive.”
“I just want to use natural remedies.”
“I don’t want my son to be a zombie all day.”
“I’m afraid the side effects will be worse than the disorder.”

From years of practice and education, I have become familiar with the arguments about the use, and possible misuse, of psychotropic medication for young people. While good healthy debate helps us all, this subject has also attracted many who distort, exaggerate, and even make up stories.

Having been interviewed myself on many radio and television programs to discuss this medication and more, I have seen the dangers of relying on sound-bite newscasts or talk show drama when it comes to terribly important topics. I have learned that many of the experts have had little or no experience working in the trenches with children. The problem is that the “experts” on television and radio, or who have a blog, are assumed to be knowledgeable.

One interview I did was for a national talk show viewed by millions of parents. I was talking about the medication used for ADHD with another doctor who had written a popular book against the use of any medication for this disorder. During a commercial break, I asked the author how he had become so convinced that medications are dangerous, as I had never seen many of the problems he was describing. He told me that he was not a child psychiatrist, but a family medicine practitioner for adults and he had never even treated a child or teenager with ADHD. He said he had written his book based on a literature search he had done on his computer. His book was doing well, and the audience warmed to his comments, as he tapped into the great anxieties that most people have about giving their children medication. I was concerned that parents listening to him might withdraw life-saving, school-saving, family-saving, abuse-saving medication treatments because of his biased arguments – arguments not based on facts or experience.

As a licensed psychiatrist specializing in children and adolescents, I have spent over thirty years treating children in the trenches. I have seen children in nearly all settings, including hospitals, outpatient public clinics, residences, foster agencies, and in private practice. I have evaluated, treated and prescribed medication for thousands of children and teenagers and have followed the progress of many of them over the course of many years. That is why I wrote, “When Kids Need Meds; Everything a Parent Needs to Know about Psychiatric Medication and Youngsters.” While I certainly don’t believe that all children with mental disorders need medication, I strongly feel that some do. To withhold these important therapeutic agents can be harmful and, in some cases, tragic. I have a deep sympathy for the children who suffer from mental problems and equal compassion for their parents. I respect the need for sound information, informed reassurance, and ongoing guidance during the time a child is being treated.

DISCLAIMER

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical or psychiatric advice for individual conditions or treatment and does not substitute for a medical or psychiatric examination. A psychiatrist must make a determination about any treatment or prescription. Dr. Paul does not assume any responsibility or risk for the use of any information contained within this blog.

YES, YOU SHOULD VACCINATE YOUR CHILD!

October 3rd, 2014

Public health officials say they’re alarmed at the growing number of cases of measles and whooping cough. They blame parents who are now refusing to immunize their kids. And it’s happening mostly in wealthy communities. “Vaccination Refusals are Alarming Health Officials,” CBS News, 9/27/2014

The spike in the number of parents in affluent California communities who are deciding not to vaccinate their children is on the rise, and reigniting the debate over vaccinations. In Santa Monica and Malibu, nearly 15 percent of kindergarteners are not immunized. That’s a startling number considering that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) says public health is compromised when more than 8 percent of students are not immunized.

Sadly, children in the United States still get vaccine-preventable diseases. As more and more families choose not to vaccinate the resurgence of measles, mumps and whooping cough (pertussis) continues to increase. In 2010, the U.S. had over 21,000 cases of whooping cough reported and 26 deaths, most in children younger than six months.

“If you are unvaccinated and you come in contact with measles, there’s a 90% chance you will get it,” says Jason McDonald, a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in TIME magazine earlier this year.

Parents need to understand that vaccinations are only given to children after extensive research has been done to make sure that the benefits out-weigh the risks. All parents want to do what is best for their children to keep them safe. You buy the perfect car seat for your newborn, the best protective gear for your teenage soccer player, sunglasses for your toddler to protect her eyes, and the list goes on. Well, vaccinations should be part of the list, too.

I am the author of four books, and my latest book “When Kids Need Meds” addresses concerns parents might have about medicating their kids. Parents struggle with fear and apprehension when having to treat their children with medications. Many of these are the same concerns that they have when considering vaccinations. What I can say is that it is important for your child and society that your child be vaccinated. Luckily, 90% of students entering Kindergarten in the United States in the 2012 – 2013 school year were vaccinated (check out the report here).

What would happen if we stopped vaccinations? According to the CDC, we could soon find ourselves battling epidemics of diseases we thought we had conquered decades ago. To learn more about the importance of vaccinating visit CDC: Vaccines & Immunizations.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical or psychiatric advice for individual conditions or treatment and does not substitute for a medical or psychiatric examination. A psychiatrist must make a determination about any treatment or prescription. Dr. Paul does not assume any responsibility or risk for the use of any information contained within this blog.

ARE YOU CONSIDERING MEDICATION FOR YOUR CHILD?

August 11th, 2014

As a child psychiatrist for over 30 years, I fully understand why parents are often anxious, hesitant, and concerned about giving medication to their child. All too often, such feelings arise from the biased, misleading, and even fabricated stories that are conveyed through the media. You wonder if you’re doing the right thing, what the long-term effects might be and should you try something more holistic. You read all kinds of posts and information on the Internet that, quite frankly, can be scary. The reality, though, is that your child needs this medication, and you need to be able to sleep at night and not worry that you are harming your child.

I have evaluated, treated, and prescribed medication for thousands of young people in settings that include hospitals, outpatient public clinics, residences, foster agencies, and in private practice, and I have followed the progress of many of them over the course of many years. I have plenty of experiences prescribing all of the current psychotropic drugs, and I have treated children and teenagers with all the various disorders including ADHD, bipolar disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Asperger’s, and more. I have seen the therapeutic effects of medication when administered properly, the harmful effects when they are abused or prescribed incorrectly, and I have observed the side effects that occur on a rare occasion.

In 2013, I wrote the book When Kids Need Meds: Everything a Parent Needs to Know about Psychiatric Medication and Youngsters. Look, I don’t believe every child with a mental disorder needs medication, but I strongly feels that some do. To withhold these important therapeutic agents can be harmful and, in some cases, tragic. In When Kids Need Meds, I discuss mental disorders, explain the process of psychiatric evaluation, answer many questions, and talk about stimulants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, sleep medications, anti-anxiety drugs and others. I also stress the importance of non-medication therapies and provide references for readers to obtain more information. My goal is to provide a guide that covers almost every aspect of an extremely important and very prevalent topic as it educates, comforts, and provides support. I hope you will find it a resource and that it helps you to make peace with having to give your child medications.

Click the picture to purchase a copy of the book!

Hashtags: #drpaul #drhenrypaul #henrypaulmd #whenkidsneedmeds #mentalhealthteens #Kidsmeds #childmeds #teenmeds

MENTAL HEALTH – AFTER TRAGEDY VIRGINIA TAKES THE LEAD!

July 24th, 2014

“At the end of the day, I want Virginia to come up with a model for treatment of mental illness,” Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath.

By now many of you have heard the tragic story of Virginia Senator Creigh Deeds, who last fall was stabbed by his son, that same son who then took his own life. Gus Deeds, 24, had been released 13 hours earlier from an emergency custody order after local mental health workers failed to find a hospital psychiatric bed before the involuntary detention order expired.

In a statement to newsadvance.com, “His tragedy really gives voice to all of the families we hear from,” said John Snook, deputy director for governmental affairs at the Treatment Advocacy Center, a national organization based in Arlington.

“Those are families that struggle repeatedly to get help for people they love who are deteriorating in front of them — refusing to bathe and hearing voices. They say, ‘I know what is going to happen, but no one will listen,'” Snook said.

As a psychiatrist here in New York City, I see this same situation. I have met many family members throughout my career who have struggled with the same situation. Where do you go when you need mental health support for a loved one? Who will help the mentally ill if they don’t want to (or can’t) help themselves?

It’s evident that not just the state of Virginia has a fragmented and failing mental health system. Just one example is the clarion call from parents, victims and survivors of mass shootings across this country to make mental health a priority. Something I agree we desperately need to do. Let’s hope that the Joint Subcommittee to Study Mental Health Services in the Commonwealth in the 21st Century will be a leader in finding solutions that other states across the nation can model.

In the meantime, it is important that you let your elected officials know that you too want to see mental health changes in your state. The last thing we want to be doing is cutting services!

Here are some other things you can do if you’re worried about your loved one:

Seek out resources – doctors, support groups, mental health clinics, mental health hotlines, etc. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a great resource in helping to support families and educate them on mental illness.
If your loved one has a diagnosis – educate yourself about their illness.
If you already have a treatment team in place, work close with them.
Make sure to take care of yourself. Find a support group or friends to talk to.
Click here to read more on the mental health panel in Virginia that began work this week.

#drpaul #drhenrypaul #henrypaulmd #whenkidsneedmeds #mentalhealthteens