Parents should consult their pediatrician and never just trust anyone on the internet to make their final decision.
...
I would consult your child’s doctor first. He is a professional and knows your child better than any of us do.
Where do you think programs advertise? On the internet. I'm pleased to see you advise parents to not trust these program salesmen who market online and prey on the fear of desperate parents, and rather listen to the professional medical opinion of their family doctor.
Yes, I think this drives home my point that the readers need to consult their doctor or talk to the programs directly
Woops! I spoke too soon, it appears you have now completely changed your advice. Now you tell parents you
can trust some random person you find online, as long as it's a program representative [salesperson] with a financial interest in seeing your child enrolled.
Tell us TheWho, why the change of opinion?
Programs offer to send escorts to pick up a depressed, "mild" bipolar, drug addicted child and forcibly enroll them in a wilderness program. Why should parents trust non-degreed, non-medical program sales people over the advice of
Timothy A. Rogge, MD
David Zieve, MD
Many "behavioral modification" schools, "wilderness programs," and "boot camps" are sold to parents as solutions for conduct disorder. These may use a form of "attack therapy" or "confrontation," which can actually be harmful. There is no research support for such techniques. Research suggests that treating children at home, along with their families, is more effective.
If you are considering an inpatient program, be sure to check it out thoroughly. Serious injuries and deaths have been associated with some programs. They are not regulated in many states.
or
Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD
Because of the behavior problems that often co-exist with adolescent depression, many parents are tempted to send their child to a "boot camp", "wilderness program", or "emotional growth school."
These programs often use non-medical staff, confrontational therapies, and harsh punishments. There is no scientific evidence to support such programs. In fact, there is a growing body of research which suggests that they can actually harm sensitive teens with depression.
or the American Psychiatric Association
"We tried this type of confrontation route and very strict discipline and found it simply doesn't work," said Levounis, director of the Addiction Institute of New York and chief of the Division of Addiction Psychiatry at St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals. "It is particularly detrimental for people who suffer from other mental illnesses, as well, such as schizophrenia or depression or bipolar disorder."
The report's findings that many programs have dangerous conditions and "tremendous side effects" are additional reasons for keeping children with co-occurring mental disorders away from such treatment approaches, he said.
Children with co-occurring mental illnesses in such residential treatment programs, Levounis said, are at best deprived of safe and effective treatments for their dual diagnosis—in terms of medication or psychotherapy—and at worst, they are at risk for death or severe physical harm.
Tell us, what gives the non degreed, non professional, non medical program salesmen who answer the phone and emails of desperate parents more credibility than these sources?
