Archives

Archive for March, 2012

back on the stage…

Academics To Doctors’ Group: Dump Nemeroff Pharmalot By Ed Silverman March 30th, 2012 Here is an irony, the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, which is devoted to combating anxiety, depression and stress-related disorders, is causing some stress and anxiety among academics and physicians. Why? The professional organization recently named Charles Nemeroff, the controversial psychiatry professor, […]

the best of times…

Conflicts of interest and DSM-5: the media reaction PLoS By Clare Weaver March 26, 2012 The fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) will be published next year, but concerns surround its financial competing interest disclosure policy and the ties its panel members have to drug companies. […]

isn’t correct…

Having been obsessed with Dr. Gibbons’ two articles for two months, it’s pretty discouraging to read this. It is relevant; it is news; it just isn’t correct.

in Arkansas?…

The legal system is difficult for me. I respect it, but I’m often confused by it. It seems to thrive on logical fallacy and concrete details. Abstract thinking and judgement appears forbidden. And a trial is more like a chess game than a search for the truth. There was a point in the Texas Risperdal […]

april is no longer the cruelest month…

In case it hasn’t been apparent, I have been on a blogging lull lately. Here’s why. And lest you don’t believe in climate change, look at the month from 2009 and 2010 versus 2011 and 2012…   I can’t think when the pollen clogs my neurons. I had an asthma attack in the middle of […]

good news…

Union To J&J Shareholders: Vote No On CEO Pay Pharmalot By Ed Silverman March 28th, 2012 For the second consecutive year, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees pension fund is urging shareholders to vote against ratifying an executive compensation proposal for Johnson & Johnson. Once again, the issue is the amount of […]

is insane…

Risk/Benefit Ratio for Further Expanding Bipolar Disorder Psychiatric Times By Allen Frances, MD March 27, 2012 … Across the board, DSM-5 proposals consistently fail on 4 counts: their exclusive emphasis on eliminating missed diagnosis with a concomitant lack of concern about false positive over-diagnosis; their neglect of risks when considering benefits; their indifference to historical […]

finally…

Texas judge finalizes $158 mln Risperdal settlement Reuters By Corrie MacLaggan March 27, 2012 A Texas judge on Tuesday finalized a $158 million agreement to settle a lawsuit that accused Johnson & Johnson of improperly marketing its Risperdal anti-psychotic drug to state residents in the Medicaid program. The action in Austin by state District Judge […]

settle-meant

Texas, Johnson & Johnson heading back to court Reuters By Corrie MacLaggan March 25, 2012 Representatives of Johnson & Johnson and the state of Texas will head back to court on Tuesday over a $158 million settlement agreement announced in January involving the drug Risperdal, a spokesman for Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said on […]

misplaced priorities…

Insight: Antidepressants give drugmakers the blues Reuters By Kate Kelland and Ben Hirschler March 23, 2012 The development of a novel antidepressant ground to a halt this week when researchers found it did not make patients feel any better than the pills they were already taking. The drug firms took the hit, with shares tumbling […]