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I've worked with a range of children, some of them have been marked with interesting psychological conditions. This was in the states, and I don't really belie
by KaiserPro 11y ago
I've worked with a range of children, some of them have been marked with interesting psychological conditions.
This was in the states, and I don't really believe that it would have happened in the UK.
A child in my care was presented to me as a "manic depressive" Said child was 7[1]. I Accepted the diagnosis unconditionally, I looked forward to interacting with a intelligent, communicative, but somewhat inhibited, or slothlike child (depending on phase and drugs)
This child had none of these traits. He had poor language skills, the inability to share, bugged by external stimulus, Terrible social skills, poor empathy and a few other things.
In otherwords he was in my view was on the autistic spectrum. (Other people more experienced, who dealt with him agreed with me)
The reason why it was so concerning was the drugs he was put on to combat his "depression". He was on lithium and other such lucrative expensive drugs. The problem with lithium is that withdrawal has a 30% risk of suicide.
The problem for me was that anyone with a tiny bit of medical training, could see he wasn't manic. Because the Psychiatrist was being paid by the hour, and prescription, his diagnosis wasn't going to change.
[1]Manic depression in prepubecents, is vanishingly rare. http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/parentsandyouthinfo/parentscarers/bipolaraffectivedisorder.aspx http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/parentsandyouthinfo/pa...
- DanBC 11y agoI agree this child was misdiagnosed and was receiving the wrong, dangerous, treatment. But lithium is not expensive. Lithium is dirt cheap. http://www.coventrywarksapc.nhs.uk/mf.ashx?ID=425e5245-157c-4484-abb0-7d8e66892e7d http://www.coventrywarksapc.nhs.uk/mf.ashx?ID=425e5245-157c-... > Cost: For 800mg/day lithium carbonate or equivalent, at April 2015 dm+d prices, one year’s treatment costs > Priadel® 400mg tablets £25 > Camcolit® 400mg tablets £31 > Priadel® liquid £273
- KaiserPro 11y agoI stand corrected. I wonder if NHS prices, which are normally quite good translate into American prices?
- QSIITurbo 11y agoLithium (carbonate) is a very old drug, cheap to manufacture, and non-patentable. It is essentially the lithium (metal) salt of carbonate (bubbling water). It is super cheap everywhere. While you might think so, I don't think it's a fact that the psychiatrist would run out of patients without this child being diagnosed with bipolar.