Summary: This article addresses the increasing use of psychotropic medications in mental health treatment plans for adopted children. Outlining challenges in diagnosing psychiatric disorders in children, the risks and unknowns of medication, and the importance of considering non-pharmacological treatments.
Application: This resource can help mental health professionals, parents, and youth decide whether to use psychotropic medications. Sometimes child welfare professionals make the decision when children are in foster care so it is equally important that they are able to make an informed decision. For adopted children, behavioral issues may stem from pre-adoption experiences or genetic factors, and while medication might support basic functioning and complement other therapies, they are not cures for trauma or attachment related disorders.
Source: National Council for Adoption
