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January 17, 2003
Drugs for 'Perfect' Kids
To the Editor:
The report that the number of children taking psychiatric drugs more than doubled from 1987 to 1996 was alarming ("Study Finds Jump in Children Taking Psychiatric Drugs," news article, Jan. 14).
I would agree with the assessment that psychiatric drugs may be being overprescribed because "health insurers are reluctant to pay for `talk' therapies and other nonmedication treatments." But there are at least two other factors contributing to the problem. One is the direct advertising of psychiatric drugs to the public. And the other is an expectation in some circles that children must be perfect.
We have lost our sense of the range of normal behaviors in children, as well as adults, and we are in a hurry to medicate away any perceived deviance.
DOROTHY W. CANTOR
Westfield, N.J., Jan. 15, 2003
The writer is a former president of the American Psychological Association.
Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company
January 17, 2003
Drugs for 'Perfect' Kids
To the Editor:
The report that the number of children taking psychiatric drugs more than doubled from 1987 to 1996 was alarming ("Study Finds Jump in Children Taking Psychiatric Drugs," news article, Jan. 14).
I would agree with the assessment that psychiatric drugs may be being overprescribed because "health insurers are reluctant to pay for `talk' therapies and other nonmedication treatments." But there are at least two other factors contributing to the problem. One is the direct advertising of psychiatric drugs to the public. And the other is an expectation in some circles that children must be perfect.
We have lost our sense of the range of normal behaviors in children, as well as adults, and we are in a hurry to medicate away any perceived deviance.
DOROTHY W. CANTOR
Westfield, N.J., Jan. 15, 2003
The writer is a former president of the American Psychological Association.
Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company
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* PAUL K.
BRANDON [EMAIL PROTECTED]
*
* Psychology Dept Minnesota State University, Mankato *
* 23 Armstrong Hall, Mankato, MN 56001 ph 507-389-6217 *
* http://www.mankato.msus.edu/dept/psych/welcome.html *
* Psychology Dept Minnesota State University, Mankato *
* 23 Armstrong Hall, Mankato, MN 56001 ph 507-389-6217 *
* http://www.mankato.msus.edu/dept/psych/welcome.html *
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