Study: Many anti-psychotic medications may be ineffective, costly

By Staff Writer

Some teenagers who suffer from mental conditions such as bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and severe anxiety are prescribed anti-psychotic medications by their doctors.

However, a new study by researchers at Stanford University and the University of Chicago reveals that many of these drugs may not help patients, but instead cause negative side effects, which may include weight gain, diabetes and heart disease.

The study's authors explained that anti-psychotic medications were introduced in the U.S. in 1989, and they were first used to treat schizophrenia. In recent years, they have been used to treat many conditions, such as personality, learning and mental disorders. Anti-psychotics accounted for more than $10 billion in retail pharmacy sales in the U.S. in 2008, which was the largest amount for any single drug class.

In addition, many of these drugs lack approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which determines if the substance is safe and beneficial. The study revealed that more than half of the anti-psychotic prescriptions that were surveyed in 2008 had uncertain evidence about its effectiveness. The number of prescribed medications that did not have the FDA's approval increased from 4.4 million in 1995 to 9 million in 2008.

Problem teens who have behavioral or mental problems may benefit from wilderness therapy, which provides more natural, evidence-based treatments than prescription medication.