Child and Adolescent Mental Illnesses FAQ - Child and Adolescent Mental Illnesses Medications
Page 6 of 7
Illnesses That Are Prescribed Medication
- Bedwetting -- if it persists regularly after age five and causes serious problems in self-esteem and social interaction.
- Anxiety (school refusal, phobias, separation or social fears, generalized anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorders) --if it keeps the youngster from normal daily activities.
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), marked by a short attention span, trouble concentrating and restlessness.
- The child is easily upset and frustrated, often has problems getting along with family and friends, and usually has trouble in school.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder -- recurring obsessions (troublesome and intrusive thoughts) and/or compulsions (repetitive behaviors or rituals such as hand washing, counting, and checking to see if doors are locked) which are often seen as senseless and which interfere with a youngster's daily functioning. advertisement
- Depressive disorder -- lasting feelings of sadness, helplessness, hopelessness, unworthiness and guilt, inability to feel pleasure, a decline in schoolwork and changes in sleeping and eating habits.
- Eating disorder -- either self-starvation (anorexia nervosa) or binge eating and vomiting (bulimia), or a combination of the two.
- Bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder -- periods of depression alternating with manic periods, which may include irritability, "high" or happy mood, excessive energy, behavior problems, staying up late at night, and grand plans.
- Psychosis -- symptoms include irrational beliefs, paranoia, hallucinations (seeing things or hearing sounds that do not exist), social withdrawal, clinging, strange behavior, extreme stubbornness, persistent rituals, and deterioration of personal habits. May be seen in developmental disorders, severe depression, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, and some forms of substance abuse.
- Autism (or other pervasive developmental disorder such as Asperger's Syndrome) -- characterized by severe deficits in social interactions, language, and/or thinking or ability to learn, and usually diagnosed in early childhood.
- Severe aggression -- which may include assaultiveness, excessive property damage, or prolonged self-abuse, such as head banging or cutting.
- Sleep problems -- symptoms can include insomnia, night terrors, sleep walking, fear of separation, and anxiety.
Types Of Psychiatric Medications
- Stimulant Medications: Stimulant medications are often useful as part of the treatment for attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).
Examples include: Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderal), Methylphenidate (Ritalin), and Pemoline (Cylert).
- Antidepressant Medications: Antidepressant medications are used in the treatment of depression, school phobias, panic attacks, and other anxiety disorders, bedwetting, eating disorders, obsessivecompulsive disorder, personality disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and attention deficit hyperactive disorder. There are several types of antidepressant medications:
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA's), which include: Amitriptyline (Elavil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), Imipramine (Tofranil), and Nortriptyline (Pamelor). Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRI's), which include: Fluoxetine (Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft), Paroxetine (Paxil), Fluvoxamine (Luvox), Venlafaxine (Effexor), and Citalopram (Celexa).
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI's), which include: Phenelzine (Nardil), and Tranylcypromine (Parnate).
- Atypical antidepressants, which include: Bupropion (Wellbutrin), Nefazodone (Serzone), Trazodone (Desyrel), and Mirtazapine (Remeron).
Antipsychotic Medications
Antipsychotic medications can be helpful in controlling psychotic symptoms (delusions, hallucinations) or disorganized thinking. These medications may also help the muscle twitches ("tics") or verbal outbursts seen in Tourette's Syndrome. They are occasionally used to treat severe anxiety and may help in reducing very aggressive behavior.
reviewed by:
Harry Croft, MD (Psychiatrist)
Medical Director, HealthyPlace.com
Created on November 30, 2008 Last Updated on July 06, 2011
