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Research

Effect of reporting bias on meta-analyses of drug trials: reanalysis of meta-analyses

BMJ 2012; 344 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d7202 (Published 03 January 2012) Cite this as: BMJ 2012;344:d7202

Rapid Response:

Re: Effect of reporting bias on meta-analyses of drug trials: reanalysis of meta-analyses

The article by Hart et al (1) found that psychiatric drugs, far more than drugs in other fields, were prone to reporting bias. Data predicting a lack of efficacy for anti-psychotics such as aripiprazole and ziprasidone have simply been suppressed. A similar attempt to ignore negative findings as to efficacy also is the case with anti- depressants.

The anti- psychiatrist author, Robert Whitaker, (2) has argued for years that the clinical trials for anti- psychotics are warped. He seems now a true prophet,however much he is vilified by the psychiatric establishment.

The avarice and greed of drug corporations have usurped the proper clinical assessment of anti- psychotics. There is an element of sulphur and brimstone about these drugs. They are not miracle cures for schizophrenia, but dangerous chemicals with ghastly side effects- from movement disorders to diabetes. Marketing and mammon do not mix well with medicine.

REFERENCES:

(1) Effect of reporting bias on meta- analyses of drug trials:reanalysis of meta-analyses. Beth Hart et al. BMJ 2012;344:d7202

(2) Mad In America:Bad Science, Bad medicine and the Enduring Mistreatment of the Mentally Ill. Robert Whitaker. 2001.

Competing interests: No competing interests

10 January 2012
Zekria Ibrahimi
psychiatric patient
West London mental health Trust, Coombs Library
Southall UB1 3EU