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WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY 9YR. OLD BOY?!

CCD
My son was dxed w/ ADHD. He's been on meds since age 5. He's 9 now. Ritalin, Concerta, Dexedrine, & now Adderall XR and Inderall.  Aggressive behavior since age 2 resulting in being thrown out of 3 daycares.  Violent in school when he doesn't get his way, (e.g. transitioning from class to class, annoyance from peers results in him hitting them, running away from teachers, kicking, screaming and hitting teachers and peers to the point where he has to be restrained and we get called to pick him up).  He's in a collaborative team teaching classroom in a regular ed. class-60% spec. ed, 40% reg.ed.  He's the only aggressive, out of control child.  School not equipped to handle his violent outbursts.  No comorbidity of any other disorders have been dxed as yet.  What is this?  When we yell or grab him, he snaps out of rage and cries. Remorseful when its over. Obstinate, oppositional, cranky, talks back, irritable. Main problem is the violent outbursts at school.  He's being seen as a danger to himself and others. Not violent at home, w/ playdates or small peer groups, or sitters or us. Bipolar? ODD? Something else? Please help us. Tried Depakote trial and it did nothing. Just got a Cognitve Behavioral Therapist once a week. He's going to get kicked out of this school, we just know it.  Our only recourse seems to be to change his classification from 'Other Health Impaired' to 'Emotionally Disturbed'!  We're afraid he'll be in a classroom of kids that are killing each other and what good models will he have then? We are at our wits end.  What's our next step? Please be as specific as possible.
Thank you so much.

- Extremely Worried Parents
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Avatar universal
Permit me to suggest the book, "The Explosive Child" by Ross Greene, M.D.  Dr. Greene is a specialist in the type of child that you describe.  You will find resources and most importantly some support for the journey.  If possible, try to hear him speak publically.
Helpful - 0
242606 tn?1243782648
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The symptoms you describe are generally indicative of either a Mood Disorder (e.g., Bipolar Disorder) or Disruptive Behavior Disorder (e.g., Oppositional Defiant Disorder). You are correct in your thinking that his symptoms are not to be explained solely by ADHD. It is likely he will benefit from mood stabilizing medication, and there's no reason to be discouraged by the fact that the trial on Depakote wasn't particularly helpful. My sense is that he is being under-treated re: his emotional conditions and, regarding the educational setting, he will likely require a substantially separate (vs itegrated) special needs classroom. Children with your son's symptoms generally do not do well in an integrated special needs arrangement. They require very small groups and a very high degree of structure and routine. Part of such structure is the provision of personnel who are trained to manage difficult behavior at the point of occurrence.
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