Tarnished Image? Psychiatrists Square Off Over A Nemeroff Lecture
Pharmalot
by Ed Silverman
6/12/2013
For the second time in little more than a year, Charles Nemeroff is the subject of protest by other psychiatrists. The latest instance involves an invitation by the Institute of Psychiatry, the leading center in the UK for psychiatric research, to the University of Miami psychiatry professor to lecture next week at its new Centre for Affective Disorders. A group of UK psychiatrists, however, object to the invitation and point to his tenure as a sort of poster boy for undisclosed conflicts of interest. In the view of the Critical Psychiatry Network, which his planned appearance will reflect badly on all psychiatrists and they want the IoP to withdraw its invitation [here is the letter]. In fact, one IoP senior lecturer also wrote BMJ to protest the move [read here]…
The lecture is on ‘The Neurobiology of Childhood Abuse: Treatment Implications’ and is a purely academic event, advertised to local academics and mental health professionals, and not open to the public. Professor Nemeroff has been invited due to his world – leading expertise in this research field, specifically in the neuroscience underpinning the relationship between experiences of early abuse and the subsequent development of affective disorders. This is an area where his academic impact, in terms of publications in prestigious journals, invited lectures at conferences and academic events worldwide, and recognition by professional societies, is irrefutable .
Nemeroff has been impeached by his peers. That is the reason for the protests: He brought dishonor on our field, and heavy sanctions were applied, to a degree that is almost unprecedented – banned from involvement in NIH grants for 2 years; eased out of a prestigious journal editorship [Neuropsychopharmacology]; dismissed from his departmental chairmanship at Emory University. It says a lot about the ethical sensibility and moral compass at Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College, London that they persist in their invitation of Nemeroff.Who cares about his perceived expertise? Is he an ethical role model for peers and trainees? What were they thinking? Were they thinking? The IoP will be tainted by this episode for years to come, and the responsible administrators deserve all the frowns and brickbats that will come their way. Here is a general discussion of the need for academic institutions to show some spine in such matters.
I don’t agree with those things intuitively or clinically, but more importantly, having heard and read Dr. Nemeroff’s body of work for over twenty years, it has always felt like teflon science with the same opacity as his expense reports or excuses when he’s been busted for one thing or another. And it says something that few outside his own orbit ever bother to repeat his findings. In my mind, these are conclusion in search of supportive evidence without ever coming in for a three point landing. As I’ve mentioned before, you can preview a version of his IoP presentation here [sans "treatment implications"].
It is nothing less than disturbing for someone who comes across at the very least excessively narcissistic, but more likely antisocial, continues to have a level of prominence and “expertise” allowed to give KOL-type interactions as training or promoting a cause.
Frankly, it would be like the Republicans still inviting a living Richard Nixon to promote the party. Shameful is the nicest word, corrupt is getting closer, entrenched ignorance or callous dismissal of feelings for those wronged by the perpetrator the best description to me.
And, you are judged by the company you keep. Having Nemeroff as a friend and working in mental health is not the alliance I would advertise openly.
Just my opinion.
“I would echo every bit of Dr. Carroll’s response except for one sentence, “Who cares about his perceived expertise?” I do. I actually I care a lot about his assertions about “The Neurobiology of Childhood Abuse: Treatment Implications.” A blog is no place to go into all the reasons why, though my comments on his recent publication [coffee-house science…] have some of them. I wouldn’t disagree that childhood abuse predisposes people to all kinds of later life mental illness and problems, but I question both of his hypotheses: that resilience against or susceptibility to the psychological consequences of traumatic experience is genetically determined and that childhood abuse exerts it’s effects in later life because of actual physical changes in the brain.”
When you talk like this, Dr. Mickey, I want to send you a big spray of jewel-colored daisies and a pot of plum preserves— it is how much I love it. Your it, not the “it” that is the sand in the oyster of this blog.
On the bright side, the Supreme Court has ruled that human genes cannot be patented. Take that, you meddling KOLs!
Wiley,
Thank you. I too care about his assertions…and “perceived expertise”.
In the 50 years as a health care advocate for my spouse we have come to deal with a number of psychiatrists. Some of those P-docs have espoused and/or quoted or justified Nemeroff’s thoughts to me in conversation.
It scares the shit out of me reading and knowing that which I do today. Quite frankly so much of psychiatry leaves me shaking in my boots and woe to the helpless and desperate patients I have listened to in my years as a discussion group facilitator for a local chapter of DBSA.
A field of medicine trying it’s best to be a science yet corrupted by so many issues as well as its own practitioners.
Many years ago I coined a term which I applied to psychiatry, “The Trial and Error Approach to Wellness.” Unfortunately I still feel this term is applicable to psychiatry this very day especially reading about it’s KOL’s lack of ethics and morals, disputed and/or corrupted studies, the $$$$ greed, etc., etc..
I’ve found and listened to patients searching for decades for any kind of relief. What the hell is a hapless patient really to do?
Personally, I feel more comfortable with those physicians who I fell honestly stated to me when I’ve questioned them, “we simply don’t know.”
Doc Mickey thanks for this posting and the reference to the video. I just forwarded the video to several docs who I’m sure would find it of interest.
Herb
vnsdepression@gmail.com
http://www.vnstherapy-herb.blogspot.com
Herb (the notorious man of many names & faces) takes roost at 1 boring old man. This is someone who has unapologetic-ally & viciously trumpeted the pharmaceutical industry’s horn & worst elements of their criminal enterprises all over the internet for over a decade…
Herb is a champion of, connected to, and is a defender of Charles Nemeroff”s unscrupulous actions and their in tandem VNS implant business scam for profit…Of course Herb is most likely still very much vested both financially and pseudo intellectually in the promotion of this dangerous voodoo science VNS device implant and procedure…
Those of us that know Herb, we are not buying this disingenuous backdoor effort here by Herbie. You are not fooling anyone, as evidenced by each of your comments still including your sleazy insignia advertizement for the VNS (vagus nerve stimulation Implant).
So once again, commenting as someone who knows and can document the true nature of your seedy and dubious character over many years; I post this warning to everyone, BEWARE!!
While the UK folks may describe him as a “professor” of psychiatry, the University of Miami has him as department chair. I may not be an expert on academic hierarchy, but that sure seems like more than a professor to me. Why aren’t we equally horrified that he holds that position? The other gig is just one speech. I know I’m horrified he holds that position at the University of Miami.