FRONTLINE investigated how a growing number of young children were being prescribed powerful antipsychotic medications that had serious side effects and unknown long-term impacts at the time. (Aired 2008)
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As the debate over medicating children continued to grow in the late 2000s, FRONTLINE spoke to parents, children, psychiatrists and researchers about the risks and benefits of prescribing powerful medications to children dealing with mental health issues.
“The Medicated Child” was a FRONTLINE Co-production with RAINmedia, Inc. and was written, produced and directed by Marcela Gaviria. Will Cohen was co-producer. Daisy Wright was editor. Martin Smith was senior producer. The executive producer of FRONTLINE was David Fanning.
Explore additional reporting on "The Medicated Child" on our website:
#Documentary #MentalHealth #BipolarDisorder #ADHD
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FRONTLINE is produced at GBH in Boston and is broadcast nationwide on PBS. Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding is provided by the Abrams Foundation; Park Foundation; the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; and the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund with major support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation, and additional support from Koo and Patricia Yuen.
CHAPTERS:
Prologue – 00:00
A Rise in Bipolar Disorder Diagnoses in Young Children – 1:15
Prescribing Antipsychotic Medication to Children & Side Effects – 9:06
Antidepressants & Antipsychotics for Children – 15:21
Researching Pediatric Bipolar Disorder & a Cottage Industry of Diagnostic Centers – 37:35
The Children Taking Medication for Mental Illness – 48:22
Credits – 52:48