Critical Film Review on “the Medicated Child”

Critical Film Review on “The Medicated Child”

        Every day people are being diagnosed with a disease or disorder, and along with more diagnoses comes more opposing views amongst professionals on how to treat and deal with them. Currently the increased rate of bipolar disorder diagnoses among children and adolescents, has received great attention and with this rise of diagnoses came the rise in using psychotropic medications. The documentary Frontline aired called “The Medicated Child” in January of 2008, examines the issues surrounding the diagnoses and treatment of childhood bipolar disorder in the United States.

        “The Medicated Child” focuses mostly on explaining the rise of the diagnoses of bipolar disorder and the opposing views on the topic. The documentary fails to focus attention on the good and bad effects of the young individual’s diagnoses. There are many children presented in the documentary that have been diagnosed as bipolar. Most of the children presented end up taking more and more medications to combat every problem or effect that arises. Jacob for example, had more medications thrashed upon him due to other symptoms arising. His parents were eventually given an anti-anxiety medication on top of everything else he was already taking. Medications seemed to be the only form of treatment pushed by the health professionals, one even stated “take meds, take meds, and take meds (“The Medicated Child”, 2008).” The problem with medications being pushed is that most of the professionals don’t know the long-term effects of the atypical drugs. For example, Dr. Patrick Bacon claimed it’s “an experiment” and “gambling” when choosing child DJ’s medications because he doesn’t know the effects, this is a concern (“The Medicated Child,” 2008). Overall, the health professionals are putting children and adolescents through a “trial and error” and risky process with these medications.

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