The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #40751

Ellen Isaacs, MD, Coalition Against the Violence Initiative, 207 W. 106th Street, 14E, New York, NY 10025, 2128665987, eisaacs@pol.net

According to the Surgeon General's Report on Mental Illness, 20% of children have a mental illness in any given year. The most common diagnosis is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, for which medication is recommended as primary treatment by most pediatric and child psychiatry organizations and departments. Environmental and educational contributions to child behavioral problems are being considered and treated with decreasing frequency, the long term effects and safety of medications have not been established, and the scientific data for establishing the diagnosis, its cause and treatment are open to question. There is a need to examine the role of drug company funding and limitation of educational resources in the acceleration of the use of psychiatric medications in children.

Learning Objectives:

• To enhance the awareness of health providers, educators and parents to theacceleration in the diagnosis and medication of ADHD and the weakness of scientific data supporting this trend.

Keywords: Behavioral Research, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.