Sept. 30, 2007
What Killed Rebecca Riley?
Katie Couric Reports On The Diagnosis Of Bipolar Disorder In Kids
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Couric's Reporter's Notebook
Katie Couric answers questions surrounding the nature of diagnosing and treating young children with brain disorders after the tragic death of a 4-year-old after her parents gave her cold medication.
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Bipolar: Dangerous Diagnosis?
A mother is on trial for killing her daughter with prescription drugs for bipolar disorder. Katie Couric talks to her and investigates the effects of increased diagnoses of the disease in children.
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Rebecca Riley (CBS)
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If that sounds unusual to you, it's not. As Katie Couric reports, until recently the disorder was believed to emerge only in adults. Now, it is estimated that there are nearly one million children diagnosed as bipolar, making it more common than autism and diabetes combined. And to treat it, doctors are administering some medications that have yet to be approved for children. In the case of Rebecca Riley, that cocktail of medications proved fatal and now her parents have been charged with her murder.
Carolyn Riley is now in jail in Boston awaiting trial and is being medicated for depression. She told 60 Minutes her daughter's problems began when Rebecca was only two years old. Carolyn took her to a psychiatrist because she had difficulty sleeping and seemed hyperactive.
"Constantly getting into things, running around, not being able to settle down," Riley remembers.
"Did you ever think, 'Well, she's two and a half years old.' There's this thing called the terrible 2's. Did you think this could, in fact, be normal?" Couric asks.
"Yes," Riley tells Couric. "The psychiatrist said that she thought that it was more than just normal."
The toddler who could barely speak in full sentences was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after several sessions over eight months. She had just turned 3. And she wasn't the only one in the family: her ten-year-old brother and four-year-old sister were already being treated for the same illness by the same doctor at Tufts-New England Medical Center. Rebecca was eventually prescribed three medications to stabilize her mood: Seroquel, an anti psychotic; Depakote, an anti seizure drug; and Clonidine, a blood pressure medication -- medications that would ultimately prove fatal on Dec. 13th.
Riley says she thought Rebecca had just a little bit of a cold and gave her daughter "Children's Tylenol Plus Cough & Runny Nose."
In the middle of the night, Riley remembers her daughter didn't want to go to sleep. "So I brought her in the room. She was right beside me on the floor. And I laid down and went to sleep," she recalls.
Before she put her to bed that night, next to her on the floor, Riley says she gave her daughter half a Clonidine.
Asked why, Riley tells Couric, "Because she hadn't been able to get to sleep since six o'clock."
"Then what happened?" Couric asks.
"Then I woke up to the alarm in the morning. And knelt down to wake her up. And there was no waking her up," Riley replies.
Riley says she knew at that point that her daughter had died. Carolyn Riley and her husband Michael were charged with first-degree murder.
The prosecutor alleged at their arraignment in February that they were overdosing Rebecca by repeatedly giving her more medication than she was prescribed. "It was used on Rebecca, her sister and her brother for one simple purpose by these defendants: to knock them out and make them sleep," the prosecutor claimed.
But the Rileys claim that they were following doctor's orders. 60 Minutes wanted to talk to the psychiatrist, Dr. Kayoko Kifuji, but she declined. Instead 60 Minutes got a statement from her hospital: "The care we provided was appropriate and within responsible professional standards."
60 Minutes did obtain a copy of Rebecca's medical records. In them, Dr. Kifuji notes Rebecca's increased risk of mental illness because of her family history. She diagnosed Rebecca after Carolyn said her daughter was - quote - "driving me crazy" and her mood switches within a minute. She would eventually prescribe the preschooler more than ten pills a day.
Riley says she did feel that that was a lot of pills for a little girl, but she says she went ahead and gave Rebecca the prescriptions. "I trusted the doctor," she says.
Dr. Kifuji has stopped practicing, pending a ruling by the state medical board. But her lawyer has said she was just practicing mainstream psychiatry. It's now estimated that nearly one million children like Rebecca Riley have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, or manic depression. And while some psychiatrists told 60 Minutes that early diagnosis is saving lives, a growing number of doctors say it is being over-diagnosed.
Produced By Kyra Darnton
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See all 231 Commentsno clothing, no shelter and were depressed and
felt hopeless. the psychiatrist brought into
comment on the situation felt what they really
needed was anti-depressant medication.
do a story on asylums. soon afterwards, joe seiganthal did an award winning series on prisons all
over the u.s.a. i suppose
they figured if a person is really a danger to
himself and others, the best place would be prison.
most of the prisoners, had psychiatric diagnoses.
it would be a most challenging series to do on
private asylums. oh, yes they have been done before.
but not at great length. since most state institutions were all closed down due to supreme
court decisions it would be apropos during election
year coming up. if not for charitable institutions
many would literally starve to death. in times
past milieu alone helped most. food, clothing,
shelter, friends, company, a nice two to three week
free respite from the ''weather'' outside. the cold
cruel world beyond the asylum doors. a little
time, to figure out a new survival plan when they
return.
yes, food, clothing and shelter are necessary for
health. many work like the dickens to provide
it each day. they can''t spare much to help feed
and clothe and shelter others. sadly, there''s
only so much to go around. remembering the malthusian theories i learned in high school economics from dr. clemens in woodland hills, ca,
at taft high school. truly a dismal science.
scarcity. paucity. expansion into space may be
the only true hope.
Doctors are paid off, bribed, wined, dined, given free meds and equipment and other bonuses to try and remain loyal to certain products In 2001, I was diagnosed with gas reflux after having had very bad heartburn for about 3 days. WAs I a frequent heartburn patient? NO. I told the Doctor that I had a similar bout of heartburn in 1989. she suggested I had gastro intestinal reflux--I asked her why? She stated that due to "chronic indications for years--that such a diagnosis was evident.
see next post
ake diagnosis continues.....
Wasn''t SHE the lucky one? I asked her what her kickback fee from the Pharmaceutical companies was. She was shocked. I explained that I had worked as an investigator of companies for years and that chronic was not a term to describe 2 episodes of heartburn within 12 years. I also asked her why so many people all of a sudden had gastro-int. reflux without the accompanying esophegeal burns, ulcerations, measurements of stomach acid, throat examination, etc.
I kept the script for posterity. She mysteriously left the prctice less than 6 months later. I went home and took Mylanta. To date--no other episodes of heartburn.
Note--the use of these products can CREATE the need for them as the body compensates for low stomach acidity by producing more acid--so if you ever try to stop taking the meds--now your body really does produce to much and you really do--now have a problem.
THINK. If you have to be told you need medications by a commercial--don''t play the game--the Pharm. companies and doctors get richer and the harm to you--could cost you your life--if you think that little fact bothers the dr or the companies, there is some toxic land or crappy bridge somewhere you can buy.
Many of the drugs set up a vicious circle of need, where to stop taking the drugs will cause either a return of symptoms or much worse symptoms than before.
In the case of Type II diabetes, most Drs know that a ketogenic diet can reverse the effects, symptoms and need for drugs--but they don''t push that. Instead they put the person on a diet too rich in carbs--because the MEDICINE NEEDS those carbs in order to work. Those carbs cause the person to stay a Type II Diabetic and need the meds--but the fact is, there is no cure for diabetes, while the drugs can control the insulin levels, it can not stop the progression of associative diseases that go along with diabetes.
This means, that dr and pharm companies have people on diets and taking meds that can keep them diabetic--knowing now that diabetes also contributes to heart disease, HBP, high cholesterol, kidney and liver problems, nerve damage and ultimately death.
but hey, it takes years--and in the meantime people have nice meds and the pharms and doctors have a patient for life. Nothing like a loyal customer. Except one being held hostage by lies, misinformation and questionable remedies for what ails them.
Posted by ladyephesus1 at 06:47 PM : Sep 28, 2007
Not only doctors, but teachers and school administrators will try to tell parents that their children have some dread condition like bi-polar, ADD, ADHD...etc. The teachers can''t maintain discipline in the classroom, so they want the kids drugged and the school boards go along with this.
Posted by toldyouso21 at 09:21 AM : Sep 29, 2007
Some of the side-effects they describe in the commercials, I think I would rather have the problem.
I too am so so sick of these commercials pushing drugs. Imagine much money is spent on these needless ads...thus raising the price of meds even higher. They banned cigarette commercials...now lets do away with the drug commercials!!
You must be from my parents'' generation. They too would state "off the cuff" something along the lines of "who takes a little child to the psychiatrist, anyway?" I have a response for you from those of us in the late 20-something to early 40-something range: many of us.
You may be one of those very fortunate souls who has no history of mental illness in her family lines. I wish we could all be so fortunate. That''s not the case. I have a child with Asperger''s syndrome and a child with bipolar disorder. There is a long history of bipolar disorder in my wife''s birth family--she was adopted--with at least one person in every generation to four generations back being afflicted with this awful disease. Fortunately, we understand much more about bipolar now than we did even fifteen years ago, when it took four years to diagnose a friend of mine.
My wife states: "You would never think of withholding insulin to a diabetic child and yet many children die of insulin overdoses." Mental illness is not well accepted by many in our society, but as someone who has been hospitalized myself due to major depression, I assure you it is real. Those who escape diagnosis as children often have greater difficulty as adults. Some children are very ill with this disease. Again, you would treat a diabetic child or a child with a heart failure, correct? Why would you not treat a child who has a mental illness?
I do however think that too many children are given pills such as Ritalin and Adderall. I am also amazed at the number of women in their 40''s and 50''s who are on anti-anxiety and/or meds for depression. I would have to estimate it at about 70% in my community. I know there are people out there that do need medications for depression but I find it hard to believe 70% of woman in this age group suffer from depression requiring medication. This has become a pill popping/gotta feel good society.
This woman should not be in jail and certainly should not be charged with murder. If you have never walked in the shoes don''t be so quick to judge. Trust me, we have looked for years for some other treatment than the psychiatric drugs he is prescribed. We have frequent visits with his medical doctor as well as his psychiatrist. His blood is monitored for levels of the drugs in his system. We have had EKG''s, EEG''s, MRI''s, CAT Scans and many other medical testing done to look for other possible reasons for his mental illness. We find no answers. If you have an answer please let the world know. We are looking for one, my grandson started medications at the age of 4 and he is 10 years old now. Where is the answer?
We''ve become a country of lab rats.
But at least we have the decency to not harm a fetus for its stem cells.
I laugh at the world.
Seriously,
Gus
REGARDS, MRS.E
When I first saw the story teaser my first reaction was how could they arrest her?? But I have to admit after hearing it, I''m not really shocked anymore. Though I would not take my child to a psychiatrist, I understand that there are children who need it. In this case, from the notes taken and the words of the mother, I think she a completely normal child and the doctor was just medicating the child for the mother''s sake. Does anyone else see this as being the case? For example, the mother complained that her daughter was hyper - mine are too if when we spend a lot of time inside, she just had a nap, just woke up or anyone gives her soda, pop, or something else with large amounts of sugar. How do I control this? Not by drugging her, but loving that she has SO much energy and taking her outside to "run" it off, lol. My son is the same way, and with gym class reduced in his school to one day a week, I am not at all schocked that he just wants to be all over the place. Again, we go outside and they get to run, play, etc and we get in they feel much better and can relax.
This mother just sounds like she didn''t know how to deal with children and the amount of energy (not to mention that they have their own little minds and may not always see eye to eye with you, even at 2, but that''s the job of a parent, not a drug to teach them to get along, compromise, etc with people)they have. What I don''t understand is how she managed the other two she had....oh wait, all three were drugged for the same thing. Nevermind.
--PS I would guess that over half of the commerical sponsors for 60-minutes are pharmeceutical companies.
Amy D., Naples, Florida
I don''t understand how she can be a victim. She had every oppurtunity to do research whether it was a library, the internet, friends, a second opinion, books, etc. There is information everywhere you look on children and on bipolar. She didn''t even bother to check the dosages? Even that information is available through the pharmacy where she had the prescriptions filled....did she ask if that was too much as it got increased? No. She complained and complained about her kid being out of control and the dr gave her what she asked for, more meds. I don''t think she was the victim. I think many parents out there that need the help for their kids will research ALL their options and try to gather as much information as they get and then some when something is wrong with their kids.....especially a disorder of any kind, wouldn''t you?
Linda
Maine
On the same note. What kind of person, or establishment for that matter, can honestly say that writing prescriptions for cocktials of ''off label'' drugs for pre-
schoolers doesn''t make them lose sleep at night! Why hasn''t the government stepped in to investigate these monsters who call themselves psychiatrists and the sadistic administration that claims they are "professional." Give me a break! The child''s heart and lungs were DESTROYED. As medical professsionals these people have failed the very patients they vow to protect. They deserve to be prosecuted and not be allowed to treat our children as participants of thier expierements. I want to know if they would do this to their children?
OUTRAGE!!!!!!!!
My daughter is now 16 yrs old, we have gone through numerous psychiatrists, more than 12 psychiatic hospitaliations and two residential placements with another one coming in the very near future due to her violent rages against herself and our family.
Doctors are groping in the dark trying to treat a condition that is real and can be fatal to the children who suffer from it, as well as to the family members that are routinely assaulted and threatened during the rages.
Studying effective treatment for children with this disorder has been very slow in coming. Funding for children''s mental health programs have been repeatedly slashed to a bare trickle. Out of the funding that currently exists, most of the money has been appropriated and put to use for juveniles that are either in the detention programs or are in state custody.
Maybe you could report on this aspect and help all the children were accuately diagnosed?
This story was so disturbing to me for the simple fact that I knew my parents were watching and they were probably getting freaked out about that little girl dying from an overdose of psychiatric drugs.(Which is absolutley horrible and my heart goes out to that family). It''s just to bad that 60 minutes did not take the time to go over and include in their story, the positive effects that medication is having on children. I have been researching the illnesses since my son was diagnosed and I am shocked that a show with their ruputation and stature would tell only one side of an issue and leave their audience with only negative views about giving medication to these children. What has happend to OPTIMISM in this world? There is so many parents out there who have been dealing with this disorder that it''s inevitable we''ll be hearing about it more and more on T.V. and in the News. 60 Minutes had their chance to educate the world fully on this matter and failed miserably to do so. Shame on them. And May the truth be revealed. And to all you parents out there facing similar issues, Let''s stand firm in our beliefs for what is right for our children!
This story was so disturbing to me for the simple fact that I knew my parents were watching and they were probably getting freaked out about that little girl dying from an overdose of psychiatric drugs.(Which is absolutley horrible and my heart goes out to that family). It''s just to bad that 60 minutes did not take the time to go over and include in their story, the positive effects that medication is having on children. I have been researching the illnesses since my son was diagnosed and I am shocked that a show with their ruputation and stature would tell only one side of an issue and leave their audience with only negative views about giving medication to these children. What has happend to OPTIMISM in this world? There is so many parents out there who have been dealing with this disorder that it''s inevitable we''ll be hearing about it more and more on T.V. and in the News. 60 Minutes had their chance to educate the world fully on this matter and failed miserably to do so. Shame on them. And May the truth be revealed. And to all you parents out there facing similar issues, Let''s stand firm in our beliefs for what is right for our children!
This story was so disturbing to me for the simple fact that I knew my parents were watching and they were probably getting freaked out about that little girl dying from an overdose of psychiatric drugs.(Which is absolutley horrible and my heart goes out to that family). It''s just to bad that 60 minutes did not take the time to go over and include in their story, the positive effects that medication is having on children. I have been researching the illnesses since my son was diagnosed and I am shocked that a show with their ruputation and stature would tell only one side of an issue and leave their audience with only negative views about giving medication to these children. What has happend to OPTIMISM in this world? There is so many parents out there who have been dealing with this disorder that it''s inevitable we''ll be hearing about it more and more on T.V. and in the News. 60 Minutes had their chance to educate the world fully on this matter and failed miserably to do so. Shame on them. And May the truth be revealed. And to all you parents out there facing similar issues, Let''s stand firm in our beliefs for what is right for our children!
This story was so disturbing to me for the simple fact that I knew my parents were watching and they were probably getting freaked out about that little girl dying from an overdose of psychiatric drugs.(Which is absolutley horrible and my heart goes out to that family). It''s just to bad that 60 minutes did not take the time to go over and include in their story, the positive effects that medication is having on children. I have been researching the illnesses since my son was diagnosed and I am shocked that a show with their ruputation and stature would tell only one side of an issue and leave their audience with only negative views about giving medication to these children. What has happend to OPTIMISM in this world? There is so many parents out there who have been dealing with this disorder that it''s inevitable we''ll be hearing about it more and more on T.V. and in the News. 60 Minutes had their chance to educate the world fully on this matter and failed miserably to do so. Shame on them. And May the truth be revealed. And to all you parents out there facing similar issues, Let''s stand firm in our beliefs for what is right for our children!
I believe the problem is that people do not always have access to the best medical care for themselves or their children. What happened in this situation is very sad, but is not what happens to children, if they are properly diagnosed and treated.
Prior to going to the psychopharmacology department at MGH, we visited several doctors who were less than helpful and not as knowledgeable as those at the nexus of medical research and practice.
I would suggest if you think your child needs help, be sure to go to someone who specializes in pediatric psychopharmacology, to help ensure they are treated with appropriate medications, at appropriate dosages, and are closely monitored. If you are lucky enough to get that combination, as we have been, then it makes all the difference.
The real issue of this story is the health care system. You are pitting a group of people who have Doctor%u2019s in Psychiatry and are prescribing medications willy nilly and people who don%u2019t have the where withal to get their teeth fixed. Why was this child not monitored? Why don%u2019t you hold the health industry accountable?
Katie, if you want to be taken seriously you should hold interviews with people who have solutions to problems not those who are victims.
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