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.
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