[A-List] US altered states: Prozac nation

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Drugs given US youth doubled
SHAN ROSS
The Herald, 15 January 2003

THE number of American children and adolescents taking psychiatric drugs
such as Prozac and Ritalin more than doubled between 1987 and 1996, research
has found.

Medical experts predicted the trend would continue, but others ask if young
people are being properly diagnosed or over-medicated. Some claim the
youngsters who need the treatment are not receiving it.

One of Scotland's leading psychiatrists said psychiatric problems among
young people in the UK were under-recognised and under-treated.

Rob Wrate, who worked with young people for 20 years at the Royal Edinburgh
Hospital, said: "In the UK, fewer than one in 10 cases of depression is
recognised and only half get treatment. The US prescribing rates are a bit
excessive and reflect their consumer society."

The US research found 6.2% of young patients took at least one psychiatric
drug in 1996 compared with 2.5% in 1987.

The study of 900,000 youngsters found stimulants such as Ritalin, prescribed
for attention deficit disorder, and antidepressants were the most commonly
prescribed drugs.

Some experts say this proves paediatricians and psychiatrists are turning
more to pharmacology to treat conditions such as depression, attention
disorder and severe anxiety.