According to Disabled World, “One in ten children has mental illness." This number is too high to be created primarily by drug companies influencing physicians, parents, and teachers as Allen Frances suggests. This is not a problem that has been exaggerated but instead is something that should be seriously considered. I disagree with Frances to a certain extent. He should not be putting the responsibility on the American Psychiatric Association and drug companies because parents should research what option is best for their children. However, when he suggests that the existence of childhood mental disorders is exaggerated, and claims that the APA should not list “psychosis risk” and “temper dysregulation”, I strongly disagree. These “illnesses” exist; drug companies did not make them up. Medical professionals researched and categorized these disorders, not commercial institutions.
Frances sees the recent wave of psychiatric disorders in children is related to drug company marketing. The children are diagnosed by general care doctors or pediatricians. The parents and teachers who are around difficult or disruptive kids like having them diagnosed because it lets them try to deal with them and can get them more services. He also believes that the APA should not add these two new disorders. Frances’ argument that companies advertise so doctors will push their products is wrong; they advertise so doctors know what is available, since doctors should be current with new products and treatments. Difficult children who are diagnosed are not considered to have these illnesses because drug companies have convinced doctors to do so or because teachers and parents do not want to deal with their issues, but because they have actual problems that can be helped when they are understood. Parents are fully responsible for deciding what is best for their child. They should have options that would include having them diagnosed if their child has a disorder.
The purpose of Frances’ article was to answer the question “Why is the recent wave in psychiatric disorders concentrated on children?” Frances believes the APA should not include new disorders because the label does not help with the understanding of the risk. He also argues that they are not actual diagnoses but illnesses created by drug companies, which the APA should not be endorsing by discussing them.
I disagree with Frances about whether childhood disorders are real or created by drug companies. These new disorders should be in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Metal Disorders because that will help parents make informed decisions about their children’s mental health. Parents and caregivers should have access to as much information as possible when looking after a child’s health.
Frances sees the recent wave of psychiatric disorders in children is related to drug company marketing. The children are diagnosed by general care doctors or pediatricians. The parents and teachers who are around difficult or disruptive kids like having them diagnosed because it lets them try to deal with them and can get them more services. He also believes that the APA should not add these two new disorders. Frances’ argument that companies advertise so doctors will push their products is wrong; they advertise so doctors know what is available, since doctors should be current with new products and treatments. Difficult children who are diagnosed are not considered to have these illnesses because drug companies have convinced doctors to do so or because teachers and parents do not want to deal with their issues, but because they have actual problems that can be helped when they are understood. Parents are fully responsible for deciding what is best for their child. They should have options that would include having them diagnosed if their child has a disorder.
The purpose of Frances’ article was to answer the question “Why is the recent wave in psychiatric disorders concentrated on children?” Frances believes the APA should not include new disorders because the label does not help with the understanding of the risk. He also argues that they are not actual diagnoses but illnesses created by drug companies, which the APA should not be endorsing by discussing them.
I disagree with Frances about whether childhood disorders are real or created by drug companies. These new disorders should be in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Metal Disorders because that will help parents make informed decisions about their children’s mental health. Parents and caregivers should have access to as much information as possible when looking after a child’s health.
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