Promoting openness and full disclosure (AHRP)

[Guest guest]

ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION (AHRP)

Promoting openness and full disclosure

http://www.ahrp.org

 

FYI

 

An Op Ed article in The Washington Post by Shannon Brownlee (below)

nails the elite procurers of psychotropic drugs who have long denied

the ominous signals of drug-induced harm: " You'd think the psychiatric

research community would have noticed that the drugs can be dangerous

for some patients -- particularly kids -- and may not be terribly

effective for most. "

 

The heated debate about the concealed evidence contradicting the

claimed value and safety of antidepression drugs threatens the very

legitimacy of psychiatry. Psychiatry's bona fides as a legitimate

medical discipline is being challenged inasmuch as " though leaders " of

psychiatry have failed to follow ethical and scientific professional

standards. The public has lost trust in psychiatry's recommendations

which are shown to be tainted by financial ties to psychotropic drug

manufacturers.

 

Inasmuch as psychiatry's leadership--including the National Institute

of Mental Health--conducted the trials, they should be held

accountable for failing to report about evidence of drug-induced harm.

They, better than others, have known that the drugs they recommend

have in many cases worsened patients' condition rather than improved it.

 

" Aside from the patients who have suffered and died, the other tragedy

of the antidepressant era is that some of the brightest minds in

academic medicine have spent so much time and money on research that

has done so little to elucidate the three-pound universe inside our

skulls. Far from being the most studied drugs on the planet, the SSRIs

are simply the most heavily marketed, while the mind and its illnesses

remain as mysterious as the cosmos. "

 

The pillars of psychiatry betrayed public trust and squandered public

funds by pretending the drugs have been found " safe and effective "

when they knew the results to be otherwise. In return for the

financial rewards and privileges granted to them by taxpayers,

academic psychiatrists have debased the profession by selling their

soul to drug merchants.

 

The debate is certain to get even more heated as new revelations about

the corrupted drug safety reviewing process in the UK and the US are

made public.

 

See: Drugs licensing flaws exposed: Pfizer advised on how to get

antidepressant approved by member of body deciding on application.

 

Sarah Boseley The Guardian

Monday October 4, 2004.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1318945,00.html

 

See: The drugs industry and its watchdog: a relationship too close for

comfort?

Rob Evans and Sarah Boseley. The Guardian. Monday October 4, 2004

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1318946,00.html

 

 

**NYC CONFERENCE OF INTEREST**

 

A 3-day multi-disciplinary conference for professionals, students, and

the

general public. Sponsored by The International Center for the Study of

Psychiatry and Psychology, and AMEDCO, LLC. (CME credit applies)

 

" CRITIQUING DISEASE MODELS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS

and developing and Implementing Effective Psychosocial Theories and

Interventions. "

 

When: OCTOBER 8TH 9TH AND 10TH, 2004, 8 A.M.-5 P.M.

Where: SHERATON LAGUARDIA EAST HOTEL 135-20 39TH AVENUE, FLUSHING, NEW

YORK

11354

 

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

 

GEORGE ALBEE, Ph.D., Researcher and past president of the American

Psychological Association

MARY BOYLE, Researcher and author of " Schizophrenia: A Scientific

Delusion? "

PETER BREGGIN, M.D., Founder and President Emeritus ICSPP, author of

" Toxic Psychiatry "

CELIA BROWN, President of Mind Freedom

JOSEPH GLENMULLEN, M.D., Author of " Prozac Backlash "

DAVID HEALY, M.D., Researcher and author " Let Them Eat Prozac "

BERTRAM KARON, Ph.D., Outstanding Psychoanalyst, researcher, and

prolific author

NADINE LAMBERT, Ph.D. Author, educator, researcher

VERA HASSNER SHARAV, Founder and President of Alliance for Human

Research Protection AHRP

ROBERT WHITAKER, Prize wining investigative reporter and author of

" Mad in America "

 

For Conference Program, Registration Form and CEU Information

http://www.icspp.org/conference/confprogandreg2004.htm

For invitation to Mindfreedom Support Coalition International

Fundraiser and

Dance Reception

http://www.icspp.org/conference/savethedate.htm AC

 

CONFERENCE CO-CHAIR: DOMINICK RICCIO, PH,D.

1036 PARK AVENUE, SUITE IB

NEW YORK, NY 10028

(212) 861-7400

212-585-3758

 

 

Contact: Vera Hassner Sharav

Tel: 212-595-8974

e-mail: veracare

 

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