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BOSTON, MA -- Psychotropic Medications Overprescribed in Foster-Care
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Concomitant Psychotropic Medications Overprescribed in Foster-Care Youth: Presented at AACAP By Maria Bishop http://www.docguide.com/news/content...257385004A3A9A BOSTON, MA -- October 31, 2007 -- Nearly 20% of youths in foster care receiving psychotropic medications received two or more such drugs in the same drug class, in a study presented here at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). Professionally developed monitoring guidelines would help to validate any necessary prescriptions for multiple psychotropic medications, noted lead author Julie M. Zito, PhD, MS, Associate Professor in Pharmacy and Psychiatry, Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Dr. Zito and colleagues selected a random sample (n = 472) from a total of 32,135 Medicaid foster-care enrolees in Texas in 2004. All subjects were 19 years of age or younger (64% over the age of 10; 5% were age 4 years and under) and all received at least one psychotropic drug in the study year (2004). The psychotropic drugs were classified under 8 drug descriptions: anticonvulsants; alpha agonists; antianxiolytics; antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, other); antipsychotics (atypical and conventional); ADHD drugs (amphetamines, methylphenidate, atomoxetine); lithium; and miscellaneous. Results demonstrated that nearly 73% of subjects were prescribed two or more psychotropic agents (in separate classes) concomitantly, while more than 41% received three or more; more than 15% received four or more drugs, and more than 2% received five or more. Psychiatrists wrote 93% of the prescriptions for the children in this study. Clinician-reported diagnoses indicated the following: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (38.8%), depression (35.5%), adjustment/anxiety (33.7%), bipolar (17.2%), and oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder (20.6%). Concomitant drug use in this study was assessed manually using patient-level computerised claims data from the month of July, 2004. Previous studies on the prevalence of multiple psychotropic medications in foster-care children have included medication claims for periods of 7 days (underestimating coprescribing) and for periods of 3, 6 and 12 months (overestimating coprescribing), Dr. Zito noted. Further more realistic data are needed to validate the use of psychotropic drugs and to ensure their effective and safe use in this at-risk population, he added. Prescriptions for psychotropic medication for youths in foster care in the United States in general far exceed prescriptions made to similar Medicaid-insured youth who qualify because of low family income, according to the researchers. CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NSA / CIA WIRETAPPING PROGRAM.... CPS Does not protect children... It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even killed at the hands of Child Protective Services. every parent should read this .pdf from connecticut dcf watch... http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US These numbers come from The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN) Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS *Perpetrators of Maltreatment* Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59 Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13 Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241 Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12 Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5 Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per 100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a bunch of social workers. CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON... BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION... |
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