There are no proven treatments of any
kind for children or adolescents experiencing psychosis or schizophrenia,
according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized comparison
trials published in PLOS One.
The study was led by researchers from
the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists National Collaborating Centre for Mental
Health as part of the development of guidelines for psychosis in children,
adolescents and young adults.
The researchers examined randomized
trials "comparing any pharmacological, psychological, or combined
intervention for psychosis and schizophrenia in children, adolescents and young
adults", assessed them for bias, and evaluated them according to a variety
of outcomes. They identified twenty-seven trials including 3,067 participants.
They found only "low
quality" evidence that antipsychotic medications may have "small
beneficial effects on psychotic symptoms." However, they found strong
evidence that these drugs caused significant weight gain and other adverse side
effects.
"There were no trials of
psychological treatments in under-18 year olds," they wrote. "There
was no evidence of an effect of psychological interventions on psychotic
symptoms in an acute episode, or relapse rate."
"For children, adolescents and
young adults, the balance of risk and benefit of antipsychotics appears less
favourable than in adults," they concluded. "Research is needed to
establish the potential for psychological treatments, alone and in combination
with antipsychotics, in this population."
Stafford, Megan R., Evan Mayo-Wilson,
Christina E. Loucas, Anthony James, Chris Hollis, Max Birchwood, and Tim
Kendall. “Efficacy and Safety of Pharmacological and Psychological
Interventions for the Treatment of Psychosis and Schizophrenia in Children,
Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Edited by
Inez Myin-Germeys. PLOS ONE 10, no. 2 (February 11, 2015): e0117166.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117166. (Full text)
--Rob Wipond,
News Editor
This
entry was posted in Antipsychotics, Children and Adolescents, Early Intervention, Featured News, In the News, Non-drug Approaches, Psychiatric Drugs, Schizophrenia and Psychosis. Bookmark the permalink.
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Thank You Mr Wipond and MIA.
You can't 'treat' an 'Illness' or disease which is neither.
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