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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Waterlily on August 27, 2001, at 20:53:56
My 9 year old daughter was complaining about anxiety and depression, so I sympathized with her and then took her to the psychologist who had diagnosed her ADD. I was rather surprised when the psychologist told me that she thought my daughter had OCD because she doesn't do anything much I'd call a 'compulsion' except maybe crossing her fingers a great deal of the time. Maybe she has some obsession and broods on some things, and that is what the doctor is referring to. She has recommended I get her on a anti-OCD medication (I understand SSRI meds are good for this). I want only the best for her but I hesitate to get her on medication for a few reasons. She seems much of the time to be quite normal and happy so I have a difficult time thinking that she NEEDS medication. (On the other hand, she's very moody and irritable a lot of the time too.) Also, I have been on antidepressants for the past 6+ years and after several failed attempts at going off the medication, I am convinced that I will continue to need it for the rest of my life. Once my daughter starts I just don't think she'll ever go off either. I intend to discuss the subject with her psychiatrist, but he doesn't have an appointment open for several weeks. I'd appreciate any thoughts you may have on the subject.
Posted by Willow on August 27, 2001, at 21:54:48
In reply to Medicate 9 year old for OCD? Your thoughts please, posted by Waterlily on August 27, 2001, at 20:53:56
You mentioned that you have also been on anti-depressants. My eldest daughter has anxiety and some behaviour that lightly would point towards OCD. I have problems with depression and anxiety. Now that I have been on a medication which is helping me, I've noticed an immense improvement in my daughter.
I've read articles that state when a child is depressed you need to treat the mother also, because she too is likely to be depressed. So perhaps by treating ourselves we are also treating our children.
My daughter had seen an advertisement for an AD med to treat social phobia and had come out and said that she needed it. Your concerns were similar to the ones I had. I decided not to persue the medication issue on the basis that she was not severly affected. I came to this conclusion because she is able to preform well at school, and has friends.
She also seems to be improving. She had a chronic asthmatic cough which has disappeared. Summer friends leaving haven't given her anxiety attacks this year.
So have I made the right choice? I don't know. She is still limited by her anxiety and yes is tearful and irratable at times.
So all I can offer you at this time is support. Weigh the pros and cons, you probably will come out with the right solution for her. You know her better than the doctor. There are no easy answers when it comes to children.
Best Wishes to the both of you,
Whispering Willow
Posted by Diane J. on August 27, 2001, at 23:25:52
In reply to Medicate 9 year old for OCD? Your thoughts please, posted by Waterlily on August 27, 2001, at 20:53:56
Waterlily,
My 10-year-old daughter has been taking Paxil since she was 5 1/2 years old. Back then it was obvious that she was suffering with overwhelming anxiety. She was unable to function in school and she cried all the time. Paxil made a positive difference in her life. Everyone who knew her noticed the change.
I think you might want to get a second opinion regarding your daughter's diagnosis. We had our daughter see a child psychologist for a year before we realized she needed the medication. I don't mean to say it could take that long, but if you are concerned you might want to seek more information, if not from another psychiatrist then from the one who thinks she has OCD.
I hope you find the answers you're looking for. I know it is difficult.
Diane J.
> My 9 year old daughter was complaining about anxiety and depression, so I sympathized with her and then took her to the psychologist who had diagnosed her ADD. I was rather surprised when the psychologist told me that she thought my daughter had OCD because she doesn't do anything much I'd call a 'compulsion' except maybe crossing her fingers a great deal of the time. Maybe she has some obsession and broods on some things, and that is what the doctor is referring to. She has recommended I get her on a anti-OCD medication (I understand SSRI meds are good for this). I want only the best for her but I hesitate to get her on medication for a few reasons. She seems much of the time to be quite normal and happy so I have a difficult time thinking that she NEEDS medication. (On the other hand, she's very moody and irritable a lot of the time too.) Also, I have been on antidepressants for the past 6+ years and after several failed attempts at going off the medication, I am convinced that I will continue to need it for the rest of my life. Once my daughter starts I just don't think she'll ever go off either. I intend to discuss the subject with her psychiatrist, but he doesn't have an appointment open for several weeks. I'd appreciate any thoughts you may have on the subject.
Posted by SalArmy4me on August 28, 2001, at 2:42:09
In reply to Medicate 9 year old for OCD? Your thoughts please, posted by Waterlily on August 27, 2001, at 20:53:56
THOMSEN, PER HOVE M.D.. EBBESEN, CHRISTINE M.D.. PERSSON, CHARLOTTE M.Nur.Sci.. Long-Term Experience With Citalopram in the Treatment of Adolescent OCD. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 40(8):895-902, August 2001.
"None of the patients deteriorated during the extended study period, and only two dropped out during the first year of treatment. No patient was excluded because of serious side effects. The side effects were similar to those reported from the use of other SSRIs (dry mouth, nausea, headache, insomnia) and seemed to disappear, most of them during the first 10 weeks of treatment. However, sexual dysfunction was described in approximately 10% to 12% of the patients as a persistent side effect. Sedation was also reported by approximately 20% of the adolescent patients as a persistent and annoying side effect. Sedation was the reason for the dropout of 2 of the 30 patients.
Conclusion
The clinical efficiency and side effects of citalopram are comparable with the observations of other SSRIs in childhood and adolescent OCD. As previously reported with fluvoxamine and sertraline, an extended treatment period of up to 1 year provides a statistically significant further reduction of the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. However, additional treatment for 1 to 2 years does not appear to produce any further relief of symptoms..."
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