Is Daydreaming a Sluggish Cognitive Tempo Disorder?

Children under the Influence of Psychotropic Drugs

Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, stated in reference to the April 2014 paper, " Atypical Antipsychotic Use Among Medicaid-Insured Children and Adolescents: Duration, Safety, and Monitoring Implications ," the following:

This study adds critical hard data to our understanding of a persistent and unacceptable trend in pediatric psychiatry. Our poorest, most vulnerable children, lacking access to evidence-based care, are receiving potentially harmful treatment with little oversight.

More than 6 million children are under treatment for attention deficit hyperactive disorder according to a recent NYT's report . There are approximately 500,000 children classified as state wards. The number of state-protected minors being prescribed emotion-altering drugs has not been quantified.

Those who proselytized the ADHD diagnosis, such as psychologist Russell Barkley , believe that numerous children and adults suffer from a yet-to-be recognized DSMMD separate condition called sluggish cognitive tempo disorder. Standard practice policies dictate that these Neurotransmittor dysfunctions are chronic and must be controlled with medications. Dr. Barkley's opinions on abnormal childhood psychological conditions may be suspect because he is a remunerated spokesman for the pharmaceutical industry.

Another sluggish cognitive tempo disorder and ADHD advocate, Dr. Keith McBurnett , told the NYT's that

These children are not the ones giving adults much trouble, so they’re easy to miss. They’re the daydreamy ones, the ones with work that’s not turned in, leaving names off of papers or skipping questions, things like that, that impinge on grades or performance. So anything we can do to understand what’s going on with these kids is a good thing.

Some of the drugs currently prescribed for ADHD patients: are: Adderall /Adderall XR , Concerta , Dexedrine , Focalin/ Focalin XR , Metadate CD/Metadate ER , Methylin/ Methylin ER , Ritalin/ Ritalin SR/Ritalin LA, Vyvanse , Daytrana , [ recalled ] and Quillivant XR .

PhRMA intends on marketing these ADHD products to the estimated 2 million children suspected of having the SCT mental impairment in spite of the knowledge that these central nervous system stimulant drugs are high-risk Schedule II substances.

Alarming fact: Federal law permits children under state jurisdiction to be enrolled in clinical trials. Protocols are as follows:

Children who are Wards of the state may be included in research that presents minimal risk 46.404 (50.51) or greater than minimal risk with a prospect of direct benefit 46.405 ( 50.52) of subpart D Children who are Wards of the state may be included in research that presents greater than minimal risk with no prospect of direct benefit (46.406 (50.53) or 46.407 ( 50.54) only if the IRB determines and documents that such research is...

This information was extracted from Boston Children's Hospital Clinical Investigation Policy and
Procedure Manual. 

Most Americans, if informed, would consider these experiments unconscionable because there is no practicable methodology for ensuring these children's safety. It has long been established that the pharmaceutical industry has excessive sway over some physicians' conduct.

Take for example the 2011 findings of the Georgia Supreme Court regarding the use of ADHD drugs on state-held minors. The Court's task force found that large numbers of children under state care are receiving unapproved psychotropic medications. This is possible because the FDA has no authority to regulate physicians' off-label prescription practices.

Are attention deficit hyperactivity and sluggish cognitive tempo disorders valid psychological conditions or are they clever industry conceits?

For further insight into this question please read Marcia Angell's article: "The Epidemic of Mental Illness: Why?"