| Children with mental illnesses like ADHD, depression,anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia may require treatment with medications. Careful consideration of the diagnosis, medication being recommended, length of time for treatment, side effects and long term effects if known should be a part of the discussion with your healthcare provider. You and your child may be referred to a specialist such as a certified advance practice nurse or psychiatrist for evaluation and treatment. There are only a few medications approved by the FDA to treat mental illness in children although medications can be used "off label" by specialists. The risks and benefits of these medications should be a part of your discussion. Medications are only a part of an overall treatment plan that may include therapy for the child or adolescent and/or the family as well as possible psychological testing, blood work, and others tests like an EEG or EKG. Medications can help reduce or eliminate troubling symptoms and help the child or adolescent to have a better quality of life. Some conditions which may be helped by medications include:
attention disorders
aggressive behaviors
anxiety disorders
bedwetting
autism/Asperger's syndrome
bipolar disorders
depression
psychosis and schizophrenia
sleep problems
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