Doctor Diagnosed 2-Year-Old With Bipolar For Seeing Monsters, Ghosts
Some interesting news from this morning’s session of the murder trial of Rebecca Riley’s mother back in Massachusetts. The testimony is from child psychiatrist Kayoko Kifiju and concerns Rebecca’s older sibling, Kaitlynne.
“At the time, Kaitlynne Riley was 2 years old, and Carolyn Riley had turned to doctors because the girl was being aggressive toward her older brother, Kifuji testified.
“The psychiatrist said she met with the little girl for an hour, during which the girl talked about seeing ‘monsters’ and ‘ghosts’–but did not display any sign of excessive aggressive behavior. Yet, Kifuji testified, she diagnosed Kaitlynne Riley as having bipolar disorder and prescribed Depakote for treatment.
“‘I made a diagnosis of bipolar disorder on Kaitllynne Riley based on information I got and I put her on medication,’ Kufiji testified.
“Asked by Middleton whether she saw any sign that the 2-year-old was unduly aggressive, the doctor replied, ‘no.’”
Evidence-based medicine at work. Sarcasm aside, who diagnoses a kid so young who is not displaying outward signs of dysfunction based upon a one-hour appointment? If a 2-year-old seeing monsters and ghosts–meaning having an active imagination–is enough to get a kiddo diagnosed and medicated then we are in deep trouble as a society.
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