I've worked with a range of children, some of them have been marked with interesting psychological conditions.

This was in the states, and I don't really believe that it would have happened in the UK.

A child in my care was presented to me as a "manic depressive" Said child was 7[1]. I Accepted the diagnosis unconditionally, I looked forward to interacting with a intelligent, communicative, but somewhat inhibited, or slothlike child (depending on phase and drugs)

This child had none of these traits. He had poor language skills, the inability to share, bugged by external stimulus, Terrible social skills, poor empathy and a few other things.

In otherwords he was in my view was on the autistic spectrum. (Other people more experienced, who dealt with him agreed with me)

The reason why it was so concerning was the drugs he was put on to combat his "depression". He was on lithium and other such lucrative expensive drugs. The problem with lithium is that withdrawal has a 30% risk of suicide.

The problem for me was that anyone with a tiny bit of medical training, could see he wasn't manic. Because the Psychiatrist was being paid by the hour, and prescription, his diagnosis wasn't going to change.

[1]Manic depression in prepubecents, is vanishingly rare. http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/parentsandyouthinfo/pa...