I don’t want to put my child on medication.  Should I still have a psychological assessment done?

The goal of a psychological assessment is never to determine whether or not medication should or should not be used.  Although psychological assessments can and often do identify childhood disorders in which medication is sometimes part of the treatment regimen, the evaluation itself does not indicate whether medication would be helpful for a given child.  Should your child be diagnosed with a disorder in which medication may be an appropriate part of the treatment plan, it is up to you and your medical doctor (usually a family physician, pediatrician, or psychiatrist) to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this form of treatment and to come to a decision regarding what is best for your child.  We are also more than happy to work collaboratively with you and your physician in discussing medication concerns.

Psychology practitioners in Ontario do not prescribe medication or make specific recommendations regarding the appropriateness of medication for an individual child.  We may however be able to provide you with general information regarding medication use for specific disorders and help you understand some of the current research related to medication use.  We can not recommend what is the best choice for your child, but we may recommend that you discuss medication treatment options with your medical doctor.

Lyla Caudle, M.A. C.Psych.Assoc.