Parent's and Families Speak Out

I'm at my medical school reunion, so today I want to refer you to the PAL website for this outstanding bit of qualitative research:

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What's New

“Medications and Choices: The Perspective of Families and Youth” is a ground breaking, family-driven study of the decision making process families go through when they choose to use psychotropic medication to treat their child’s mental health needs. Survey data from 274 parents and more than 80 youth document many common experiences such as a search for reliable information, trials of alternative treatments and concerns about financial costs.

Over the past several years, there has been a great deal of heated discussion about the rising use of psychiatric medications to treat children and adolescents. Media coverage has produced mixed reactions in many parents, who have felt their experiences were not accurately portrayed. Although each family’s experience is unique, many common elements and key values emerged in this study. Most strikingly, parents feel caught between their own experience of the effectiveness of medication and their concerns that medications may be stigmatizing or risky.

To read the full report, click here

Also, I hope that you all read Brianna's witness, part of which was shared at our Forum in Webster.