Q. My daughter has been diagnosed with ADHD
(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and ODD (Oppositional Authority Disorder)
since the age of 3. She has been treated with Ritalin, clonedine and more
recently Adderall, Serzone and Depakote.
She has always experienced extreme irritation, anger and depression and has
recently been diagnosed with Cyclothymic Disorder and her psychiatrist has
recommended residential treatment. However, her meds have not been altered
or changed.
What are the standard methods of treatment for an adolescent? And are what
are the commonly used medications used for treatment?
Additionally, as she has had many episodes of rage anger and depression and
as the result of an extreme episode of anger where she was both physically
and emotionally out of control and claimed to have been physically abused,
she was taken into protective custody. (She currently is living with her
bio grandmother who is also a certified foster parent).
The state determined immediately that the allegations of child abuse were
non-founded, however she remains the care of the State (I have voluntary
agreed to this as I can not care for her in my home and my HMO did cover
extended treatment). As she is represented by the public defenders office
and she has learned of her potential placement in residential treatment and
she has told her attorney that she does not want to be put into treatment.
In an effort to represent his client (my daughter) the attorney is now
opposing the recommendation by her psychiatrist and will petition the court
once an appropriate placement is determined.
I believe that this is in fact interfering with her treatment. How would I
find out if this in un-lawful? My attorney has addressed this issue in
hopes that the judge with decline the request.
A. This is one of those cases where you get a second opinion. Good God, if what
is being done is not working, you try something else. She needs a medication
change. It may not work, but I do not see how things could get much worse.
Get a second opinion.
