Straight Talk about Psychiatric Medications for Kids, Third Edition - Softcover

Wilens, Timothy E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1593858426 ISBN 13: 9781593858421

Publisher: The Guilford Press, 2008

Synopsis

Deciding whether to give your child medication for an emotional or behavioral problem is one of the toughest choices a parent can face. Will medication really help? How long will it be needed? The doctor may say it's perfectly safe--but what about the news stories about overuse and risks? From experienced child psychiatrist Dr. Timothy Wilens, this bestselling guide has already empowered many tens of thousands of parents to become active, informed managers of their children's care. Dr. Wilens explains how medications work; their impact on kids' emotions, personality, school performance, and health; the risks and benefits of widely used antidepressants; and much more.

 

New in the Third Edition:
The fully updated third edition details the latest advances in treating specific disorders--with significant new information on bipolar disorder and ADHD--and offers up-to-date answers to parents' frequently asked questions.

About this title

About the Author

Timothy E. Wilens, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, specializes in pediatric and adult psychopharmacology in his clinical work at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he is currently Director of Adolescent Substance Abuse Services. Board certified in child, adolescent, adult, and addiction psychiatry, Dr. Wilens is a leading researcher and publishes widely on child and adolescent psychiatric issues.

Review

"The title says it all. Dr. Wilens arms parents with the knowledge they need to understand the risks, benefits, and role of psychiatric medications for children, and enables them to make informed decisions. He is wonderfully successful in combining his expertise and clinical experience into a practical resource for parents."--Christopher J. Kratochvil, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center  "Parents considering psychiatric medication treatment for their son or daughter often face a bewildering array of conflicting information--and misinformation--from family, friends, and media. Dr. Wilens, a top-notch psychopharmacologist, provides detailed, clearly understandable, research-based guidance on the pros and cons of various treatment options. This book is a valuable resource for clinicians and parents."--Thomas E. Brown, PhD, Associate Director, Clinic for Attention and Related Disorders, Yale University School of Medicine

"A helpful aid for parents to better inform themselves about childhood psychiatric disorders and psychotropic medications. The book contains a wealth of information useful to parents and practitioners." (Journal of Psychological Medicine 2008-09-04)

"A valuable asset for school social workers. It provides well-organized, comprehensive information about the use of medications....School social workers can easily use it to assist parents in making decisions about the use of medication for their children....You can't ask for much more from this book. It covers so many questions about children and psychiatric disorders and the use of medication that parents may ask or think about after they've left the doctors office....The use of definitions, tables, and charts helps make it accessible." (School Social Work Journal 2008-09-04)

"The book is written at a level that is understandable and respectful to parents....One of the definitive books on pediatric psychopharmacology. It is an additional bonus that it is written specifically for parents....Highly recommended for clinicians and parents alike." (Metapsychology Online Reviews 2008-09-04)

"Dr. Wilens does an excellent job discussing various medications that can assist in the treatment of students with mental, emotional, or behavior problems....This book is an excellent source for school psychologists and school personnel, even though it is written for parents. It would be a highly valuable addition to a school's reference library and would be especially useful as a third-party reference when parents raise discussion of psychiatric medication." (NASP Communiqué 2008-09-04)

"A godsend for parents looking for answers. Wilens takes the mystery out of medication." (Time 2008-09-04)

"An informative guidebook....The author's straight talk about medications will help parents become 'informed collaborators' in their child's psychiatric care." (Publishers Weekly 2008-09-04)

"This book―a virtual teaching manual―uses a no-frills approach to providing an affordable wealth of information....An excellent supplement to the doctor visit. It is concise, well organized, and very easy to use." (NAMI Advocate (National Alliance on Mental Illness) 2008-09-04)

Edition details

• Publisher: The Guilford Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1593858426
• ISBN 13: 9781593858421
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 325