Comments on: Worse Than Meds for Kids? http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2008/06/24/worse-than-meds-for-kids/ A blog about mental health Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:55:48 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: HS http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2008/06/24/worse-than-meds-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-3296 HS Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:12:14 +0000 http://trouble.pwblogs.com/2008/06/24/worse-than-meds-for-kids/#comment-3296 I saw this article in the times and knew you would be all over it. A few counter-points: 1. Complex subject, simplistic NYT article. Nursing homes in general are horribly understaffed (or staffed with poorly trained staff) and managing difficult behavior is a challenge. 2. Despite the fact that using antipsychotics for the agitation of dementia is "off label" such use follows American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry protocol. 3. The Fountains back in the day was a Taj Majal compared to most nursing homes today. Today's nursing home patients are MUCH sicker-psychiatrically and medically- than they used to be. Sicker patients means worse symptoms(as in "Mr Jones just threw a chair at his roomate"). P.S. Your article on the Lavins was great. If you look the word gonif up in the dictionary there is a picture of a Lavin family seder. I saw this article in the times and knew you would be all over it.
A few counter-points:

1. Complex subject, simplistic NYT article. Nursing homes in general are horribly understaffed (or staffed with poorly trained staff) and managing difficult behavior is a challenge.
2. Despite the fact that using antipsychotics for the agitation of dementia is “off label” such use follows American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry protocol.
3. The Fountains back in the day was a Taj Majal compared to most nursing homes today. Today’s nursing home patients are MUCH sicker-psychiatrically and medically- than they used to be. Sicker patients means worse symptoms(as in “Mr Jones just threw a chair at his roomate”).

P.S. Your article on the Lavins was great. If you look the word gonif up in the dictionary there is a picture of a Lavin family seder.

]]> By: Joe http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2008/06/24/worse-than-meds-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-3295 Joe Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:49:16 +0000 http://trouble.pwblogs.com/2008/06/24/worse-than-meds-for-kids/#comment-3295 I wonder if those who zealously advocate for the broad use of antipsychotics feel about the possibility that they too could be prescribed these drugs in future. Perhaps, an appreciation of this fact might render them less sanguine about their use and misuse. I wonder if those who zealously advocate for the broad use of antipsychotics feel about the possibility that they too could be prescribed these drugs in future. Perhaps, an appreciation of this fact might render them less sanguine about their use and misuse.

]]>