Parents of children with ADHD have many concerns when it comes to medication. One of the more common is the possibility that ADHD drugs could cause mood swings. Mental health expert Dr. Charles Raison recently addressed mood swing issues in an edition of CNNs Expert Q&A.:

The first thing to assess is whether the child might be abusing the stimulant. Stimulants are among the safest of all psychiatric medications when used as prescribed. But they are also prone to abuse, and in high doses they frequently produce all sorts of sinister side effects, including frank psychosis.

Raison also advised parents to take note of when the mood swings started or became worse. Does there seem to be a correlation between the mood swings and the time your child started taking ADHD medication? Talk with your childs doctor and explore the possibilities. Remember, there are many medication options for treating ADHD.

Source: CNN

Labels: medications, mood_disorders

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Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia are conducting a major new study on adolescents with Asperger Syndrome. This disorder affects about one in 280 Australians, a rate higher than the world average.

Lake-Hui Quek and others are trying to determine why young people with Asperger Syndrome experience high levels of mood disturbances and anxiety. They hope to develop new interventions specifically designed for Asperger Syndrome.
Currently, they are conducting trials of specialized cognitive-behavior therapy among adolescents with the syndrome.

Check out Your Little Professor - a friendly and helpful site - for parents of children with Asperger's or Autism.

Labels: aspergers, therapy, mood_disorders

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