Studies could alter treatment for depression, schizophrenia

[HuckleB]

Studies could alter treatment for depression, schizophrenia

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05208/544589.stm

"The results of the largest studies ever conducted of depression and schizophrenia will be released in coming months, potentially transforming the way patients are treated and shaking up some of the drug industry's most lucrative markets.

The federally funded studies are part of a six-year push by the mental-health division of the National Institutes of Health to come up with reliable scientific data on the differences between drugs and treatment strategies for the major psychiatric illnesses. The project comprises four trials, in serious depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and adolescent depression.

The aim is to fill the information gap that plagues psychiatry, and hurts the quality of care given to patients. Clinical trials that companies do to get drugs approved aren't designed to provide the answers that doctors say they really need. For one, these trials don't compare one drug with another, because they are designed to show only whether a particular drug is effective against an illness. Thus, psychiatrists have little guidance on whether one drug works better than another or has fewer side effects than another.

Also, at eight to 12 weeks long, drug-company trials are too short to reveal how patients fare or what side effects crop up long-term. And, in order to stay focused on a drug's efficacy on one illness, they exclude the sickest patients and people with co-existing diseases.

..."

[wli]

1. doubtless another plug for the psychiatric incarceration racket

All it takes is a fabricated tip and the victim is beaten, locked up, and tied down for weeks by medschool dropout thugs, out of a job, in debt for tens of thousands of dollars in medical fees, and hooked by court order on chemically-castrating smack.

"Big Pharma" at it again...

[HuckleB]

2. Yeah, sure, you betcha.

:shrug:

:eyes:

Don't worry. I'm not going to worry going down any roads of any kind with you.

Salud.

[wli]

3. okay, then let me put it this way

Be very, very wary of the shrinks. They are doing bad things, and there are highly unethical (and unconstitutional) moneymaking schemes involved, created and/or backed by legislation and/or judicial precedent.

[HuckleB]

4. Sweeping generalizations are so cool!

I forget that sometimes. Thanks for reminding me.

[wli]

5. like any generalization, there are caveats

I'm sure with enough effort an ethical psychiatrist or two could be found (possibly in other countries).

Seriously, it's not possible to operate without some sweeping generalizations. For instance, generalizations about Republicans. Some generalization is necessary to make any kind of statement at all.

There is corruption and violation of constitutional rights going on in psychiatry that I'm trying to point at. To see the kinds of things people have to fight here, just look at the GLBT threads where neoconservatives are trying to get homosexuality reclassified as a mental illness. The area I get worked up about centers around incarceration and involuntary medication.

[HuckleB]

6. So you "get worked up" about something only a very tiny fraction

of psychiatrists are involved in, but you believe there are only one or two ethical psychiatrists in the world?

Very interesting.

[AndreaCG]

7. Want me to set you up with my psychiatrist?

I am bipolar and even with meds have good and bad days but at least I am not in bed for a year now. Judge not...