Medications prescribed for children with mood disorders: effects of a family-based psychoeducation program

Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology
Colleen M Cummings, Mary A Fristad

Abstract

Few controlled trials have examined psychotropic medications in children with mood disorders. Multiple medications are often prescribed for these children, who frequently suffer from several comorbid conditions. However, this polypharmacy has been infrequently studied and may lead to adverse drug-drug interactions. Multi-Family Psychoeducation Groups (MFPGs) are an 8-session, manual-driven treatment for children with mood disorders, designed as an adjunct to current medications and psychotherapy. In part, MFPG teaches parents and children to be better consumers of mental health care, including medications. This study examined the effect of MFPG on medications taken by 165 children, ages 8-11, with mood disorders. The authors hypothesized that MFPG would not affect the mean number of medications taken but that the variance in number of medications would decrease from pre- to posttreatment (i.e., the number of medications prescribed for any given child should become more closely distributed around the sample mean). Approximately 70% of participants were diagnosed with bipolar spectrum disorders, and 30% were diagnosed with depressive spectrum disorders. Most had both comorbid behavioral (97%) and anxiety (69%) disorders. Informat...Continue Reading

Citations

Sep 14, 2011·Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology·Colleen M Cummings, Mary A Fristad
Sep 11, 2008·Current Opinion in Pediatrics·Colleen M Cummings, Mary A Fristad
Dec 23, 2015·Clinical Psychology Review·M ReinaresE Vieta
Feb 5, 2011·European Psychiatry : the Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists·A MontoyaM Ferrin
Jan 31, 2012·Journal of Marital and Family Therapy·Alicia LuckstedLisa Dixon
Dec 12, 2012·Journal of Affective Disorders·Edmir G NaderSheila C Caetano
Nov 29, 2012·International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology·Dominique E Roe-SepowitzE C Hedberg
Mar 6, 2021·Journal of Attention Disorders·Lauren Amy PowellValerie Harpin

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