Book Review: Straight Talk About Psychiatric Medications For Kids
In his book, Timothy E. Wilens, MD, demystifies diagnosis and treatment for ADHD and childhood psychiatric and behavioral disorders, like anxiety, depression and autism.
by Timothy E. Wilens, M.D.
Guilford Press, $17.95
Purchase Straight Talk about Psychiatric Medications for Kids (#CommissionsEarned)
When a child is diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, parents naturally have many questions. Straight Talk about Psychiatric Medications for Kids(#CommissionsEarned), by Timothy E. Wilens, M.D., a leading child psychiatrist, does an excellent job of answering these questions. It demystifies the complex process by which doctors diagnose and treat ADHD and other common psychiatric and behavioral disorders of childhood, including anxiety, depression, and autism. Wilens, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, devotes an entire chapter to ADHD, and another whole chapter to the drugs used to treat it.
This revised edition of Wilens’s book brings parents up-to-date on advances in treatment, including the new long-acting medications. Writing in a question-and-answer format, Wilens explains when to seek help, how to pick a mental health professional, how to work with school authorities to provide the best care, and how to answer a child’s questions about his condition. Medical terms are well-defined, and tables show which medications are commonly used to treat the various disorders.
Wilens addresses the tough questions about potential dangers of psychiatric drugs, as well as concerns about their overuse. He explains how parents can determine whether a particular drug is working and how to monitor its side effects. A special section on hospitalization of mentally ill children is particularly reassuring.
Related reviews:
- Dr. Larry Silver’s Advice to Parents on ADHD: Second Edition
- Kids in the Syndrome Mix
- A Parent’s Guide to Developmental Delays
#CommissionsEarned
As an Amazon Associate, ADDitude earns a commission from qualifying purchases made by ADDitude readers on the affiliate links we share. However, all products linked in the ADDitude Store have been independently selected by our editors and/or recommended by our readers. Prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
