Interesting hot topic in the comment section of 1 Boring Old Man blog:

In this post, discussing the C.A.B.F. Child Adolescent Bipolar Foundation's name change to the Mind Foundation and it's remaining conflicted science advisory council that includes, Joseph Biederman, et al.

What began as a discussion of the corruption, conflicts and sanction against Biederman from Harvard, Wagner who was co-author to the Paxil 329 study and more...has turned into a comment section hot bed of pro-med parents equating psychiatric meds to chemotherapy for cancer patients, and one mother of a 10 year old son with compromised kidneys, working at 75% and putting him on Lithium, after trialing Depakote, Trileptal, Seroquel, Ativan.

I'm pretty sure some of my readers would be interested to go read the pro-med defense, it's entrenched in pharmaceutical baseline treatment, as the end all be all, with disregard to side effects that the future might hold,because it's the containment of the child's anger and emotions that seems important today to the parents. That's their choice.

Duane Sherry, go take a look over at the Boring Old Man post, where Bernard Carroll has even chimed in, who once called Charles Nemeroff so toxic he glows in the dark....

The CABF-Mind Freedom science advisors are the most tainted group I've ever seen on one panel. Those KOLs are the fuel behind the CABF parents and their strong belief in medications, yet, sadly, outcomes in a decade may not be what they all hoped for when they counted out those pills into the daily containers that sit on their kitchen counters.


Trileptal

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

Novartis pays $422 million fine for illegal promotion off-label use of Trileptal for bipolar disorder


Adverse Events

Lithium Carbonate


My daughter was given Lithobid and Lithium Carbonate for several years, and she could barely hold a fork without the tremors interfering as time went on. After much discussion a doctor removed the Lithium and said she never needed it, and when the lithium was removed the tremors stopped. The tremor side effect was not immediate, it built up over time. She does have permanent thyroid damage now as a result of that drug. They trialed Trileptal on her too.

Trileptal side effects can be the same as a psychiatric symptom

Rx list

Suicidal Behavior and Ideation

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) , increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication. Patients treated with any AED for any indication should be monitored for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior.

Renal Impairment
There is a linear correlation between creatinine clearance and the renal clearance of MHD. When Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) is administered as a single 300-mg dose in renally-impaired patients (creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min), the elimination half-life of MHD is prolonged to 19 hours, with a two-fold increase in AUG. Dose adjustment for Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) is recommended in these patients [see Use in Specific Populations and see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].


Duane Sherry's story.

Ruth Deming's story-kidney transplant from Lithium use

My diminishing kidney function is the result of taking lithium carbonate for 16.5 years for manic-depression, which I no longer have."

Continued

More, after that post in this follow up post at Boring Old Man blog, authored by a retired psychiatrist. He's mad as hell....

New name, same conflicted scientific advisory council: C.A.B.F. changes to The Balanced Mind Foundation

Don't let the name change fool you... C.A.B.F.Child Adolescent Bipolar Foundation is now The Balanced Mind Foundation. Same players, new name. Senate investigated and Harvard sanctioned Joseph Biederman, Lilly paid Melissa DelBello, and the of the CABF-Balanced Mind Foundation advisory council are all still there, advising with backgrounds such as paid pharma speakers, ex-Paxil 329 author Karen Dineen Wagner, Seroquel trial on 4 year olds Janet Wozniak...

The name change according to Executive Director Susan Resko will allow ALL kids to feel equal with terms, labels and dx's, not just bipolar anymore...now the Balanced Mind Foundation will encompass the entire DSM 5 new and improved multitude of dx's for kids. Isn't that great?

"CABF’s board of directors voted to expand our mission from a single condition to include all mood disorders: bipolar disorder, depression and a proposed new DSM-V diagnosis for children which will attempt to capture children who are currently diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but do not meet full criteria."--writes Resko

Interesting use of the word capture.

I'm positive there are meds for that.

Note:

Be sure to read 1 Boring Old Man blog on this topic, authored by a psychiatrist where he says,

"Does the Balanced Mind Foundation think we’ve forgotten Rebecca Riley?"....

C.A.B.F. Scientific Advisory Council member Robert Findling trialing antipsychotic Abilify on 5 yr olds, America's kids on psychiatric drugs

Children in America are at high risk for being diagnosed with a mental illess and medicated for acting like kids, especially if their parents are diagnosed bipolar.

'Experts' like to call the elevated moods 'symptoms', which brings 'cyclotaxia' into the discussion and more.


Child Adolscent Bipolar Foundation is the largest parent support group on the 'Net for parents of kids with mental illness diagnoses or psychiatric 'disorders' Many are parents of children diagnosed Bipolar, ADHD, OCD and Schizophrenia. The influence begins with their Scientific Advisors, and the influence of the pharmaceutical companies is proven by the advisor's personal lives, the advisors who take money from pharma cos that make the drugs to treat these 'illnesses'. It's safe to say the site is pro-med and pro-diagnosis.

There is a parent forum where parents can share their stories with each other, and that is where I was encouraged over a decade ago to drug my child to the eyeballs for her (now wrong and removed dx) Childhood Bipolar Disorder. I was given advice by people 'inside' CABF and in particular which psych meds were the popular med cocktail of choice by 'experts'.

Back then it was Depakote, Lithobid, Zyprexa, and many kids were given benzos in the afternoon for the 5 o clock 'meltdowns' that were happening. No one questioned the 3pm dose of meds these kids were taking or withdrawal symptoms from the drugs such as antidepressants Zoloft that many were taking, and switching to and from.....


CABF bpkids Scientific Advisory council is brimming with impressive KOL's, impressive with bank accounts lined from pharmaceutical companies. Robert Findling joins the ranks with Melissa DelBello($215,000 in Q1 2011 from Eli Lilly)and Christoff Correll, Kiki Chang and of course Senator Grassley busted Joseph Biederman.


Robert Findling Seroquel XR study

Findling was the Principal Investigator of the AstraZeneca sponsored trial of the antipsychotic Seroquel XR on 10 year olds for Pediatric Bipolar Depression.

Robert Findling PubMed

Early symptoms of mania and the role of parental risk

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of this study were to: (i) describe the phenomenology of youths diagnosed with subsyndromal bipolar disorders; (ii) describe the phenomenology of youngsters who are the children of bipolar parents, who are also experiencing subsyndromal symptoms of bipolar disorder (patients with 'cyclotaxia'); and (iii) explore which symptoms may be most useful in identifying youths with cyclotaxia.

METHODS:
Four hundred outpatients between the ages of 5 and 17 years received a diagnostic assessment and psychometric questionnaires pertaining to mood symptomatology and psychosocial functioning. Parental diagnostic information was also obtained. Children and adolescents were assigned to one of three diagnostic groups: a 'syndromal bipolar disorder (BP)' group (n = 118), a 'sub-syndromal bipolar (SUB-BP)' group (n = 75), or a 'non-bipolar (NON-BP)' group (n = 207). In addition, based on parental diagnoses, youths were assigned to either a high genetic risk group (n = 167) or a low genetic risk group (n = 233).

RESULTS:
Youths with subsyndromal bipolar disorders were found to have intermediate degrees of manic symptoms than youths with bipolar disorder and youths without a bipolar diagnosis. Offspring of parents having a bipolar disorder were more likely to show symptoms of hypomania and mania than youths without a bipolar parent. Youths at genetic risk for developing a bipolar disorder were not found to be at higher risk for having a diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or a disruptive behavior disorder. Finally, results suggest that elevated mood with irritability and rapid mood fluctuations are the key distinguishing characteristics of 'cyclotaxia'.

CONCLUSIONS:
There exists a group of youngsters who are the offspring of a parent/parents with a bipolar disorder who do not suffer from BP 1 or BP 2, yet have elevated mood symptoms and psychosocial dysfunction. As a result of these observations, treatment studies are needed for youths with 'cyclotaxia'.

Robert Findling Pharma ties (Dollars for Docs)




Findling is on the Editorial board at MedScape with Christoff Correll, both on the CABF advisor council.

MedScape Board Member details (financial disclosures)

Robert Findling

Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

Robert L. Findling, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:

Received grants for clinical research from: Abbott Laboratories; Addrenex; AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Forest Laboratories Inc; GlaxoSmithKline; Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C; Eli Lilly and Company; Neuropharm; Otsuka Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd; Pfizer Inc; Shire; Supernus Pharmaceuticals; Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Served as an advisor or consultant for: Abbott Laboratories; Addrenex; AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP; Biovail Corporation; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Forest Laboratories, Inc; GlaxoSmithKline; Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C.; KemPharm; Eli Lilly and Company; Lundbeck Research USA, Inc; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Organon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Pfizer Inc.; sanofi-aventis; Sepracor Inc.; Shire; Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Supernus Pharmaceuticals; Validus; Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Served on the speakers bureau for: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C.; Shire

Christoff Correll

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY; Medical Director, Recognition and Prevention Program, Department of Psychiatry Research, The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, New York

Christopher U. Correll, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:

Served as an advisor or consultant for: Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Ltd; AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Cephalon, Inc.; Eli Lilly and Company; Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, L.P.; Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C.; GlaxoSmithKline; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd; Medicure; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Pfizer Inc.; Schering-Plough Corporation; Supernus; Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.; Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Served as a Data Safety Monitoring Board Member for: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Cephalon, Inc.; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Supernus




Finding the kids to medicate, if they aren't meeting the criteria then something is wrong, find a reason to medicate them!


Kiki Chang, C.A.B.F Scientific Advisory council, Stanford University

Experts Close to Defining Bipolar Criteria in Children

"While rare, the occurrence of bipolar I and II disorders in children no longer seems a matter of dispute. Yet researchers and clinicians struggle to define a group of symptomatic children who don't meet full diagnostic criteria.

Based upon the number of sessions devoted to the topic at the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), the debate over the existence— and definition—of pediatric bipolar disorder is alive and well.

However, the focus of the debate appears to have shifted a bit. After many years of deliberation, the existence of “true mania” (and therefore the potential existence of bipolar disorder itself) in children, appears to be generally agreed upon. The majority of child and adolescent psychiatrists seem to concur that while rare, distinct episodes of mania that would meet DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for bipolar I disorder, can and do occur in children, said Kiki Chang, M.D., an assistant professor of psychiatry at Stanford University.

“Bipolar II,” Chang continued, “is harder [to diagnose in children], but still definable.” Chang chaired one of many sessions on pediatric bipolar disorder during the AACAP annual meeting in Toronto in October. “BP-NOS [not otherwise specified], is harder even still,” he said."

"Still Definable" says Kiki Chang

Kiki Chang pharma ties

Kiki Chang



Currently Recruiting!

Study of Aripiprazole (Abilify) Versus Placebo in Children With Subsyndromal Bipolar Disorder



Purpose

"The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness and tolerability/safety of aripiprazole (abilify) in children with subsyndromal symptoms of bipolar disorder who also have a bipolar parent and other family member with a mood disorder."



The heavy cloak of pharmaceutical influence and tainted KOL's (Key Opinion Leaders)defining, defining which kids are vulnerable to 'mental illness' is part of the epidemic that has entrenched America. The mental illness epidemic that the pharmaceutical companies push, via lining these doctors of influence pockets with cold cash, and the prestige created within the psychiatric circle is a frightening portrayal of the new culture in America. The new way of defining illness and children.

Once the kids are medicated, there are no longer baselines of kids for anyone to see. Children are lively, high spirited, wiggle, and talk too much. If they don't teachers and parents question if they are now depressed. If they are too lively, they could be subsymdronal bipolar, on the cusp of being defined bipolar, which appears according to these studies and KOL opinions, is not too far off.



The ramifications of drugging young for mental illness and preventative measures, are enormous.


A life lived on psych meds and on the growing brain has negative outcomes, I know, because my daughter is re-learning how to speak in sentences and take showers daily at age 23 as a result of this medication based medical model America calls psychiatry.

University of Cincinnati's Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics: Melissa DelBello earned $215,174 income from Eli Lilly

Melissa DelBello Eli Lilly Q1 2011

$215,174.00







Image from ProPublica Dollars for Docs database

Does the University of Cincinnati consider Melissa DelBello's income from Eli Lilly to be a conflict of interest with regard to her clinical research at the University of Cincinnati?

"BACKGROUND, CURRENT PROJECTS, RESPONSIBILITIES

DR. MELISSA DELBELLO is a Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics. She is Vice-Chair of Clinical Research for the Department of Psychiatry, Co-Director of the Division of Bipolar Disorders Research, and Director of Reseach Training and Education for the Division of Child Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Dr. DelBello received a B.S. from Cornell University, an M.D. from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, and an M.S. from the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Dr. DelBello’s research interests include the neurodevelopment and neuropharmacology of bipolar disorder."

Do you think Eli Lilly, the makers of the antipsychotic Zyprexa influence her research outcomes? Who makes $215,000 (nearly 1/4 million) in one 3 month period? will she earn the same the rest of 2011 to total a $ million dollars from Lilly personal income?

Does the University of Cincinnati have a policy for conflicts of interest? are the Professors allowed to receive money like this? does DelBello report it to the University and do they post it on their website for public viewing for transparency purpose?

Does the pharmaceutical income directly influence this part of her listed Curriculum Vitae ?

●Professional Advisory Board, Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation

●Editorial Board, J Clin Psychiatry, J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol, Journal of Bipolar Disorders, Current Psychiatry

●Professional Advisory Board, Ohio Chapter of Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

●Steering Committee, Modeling Effective Antipsychotic Therapeutic Success by Utilizing Real Evidence (MEASURE) Continue Medical Education Programs

●Scientific Advisory Board, Step Up for BP Kids (bipolar kids)

●Editorial Board, Bipolar Disorder

●Co-Chair, 31st Annual Review Course in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati, OH

●Section Editor for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bipolar Disorders

●Member, Neural Basis of Psychopathology, Addictions and Sleep Disorders (NPAS) Study Section, National Institute of Health

●Workgroup on Research, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

●Program Committee, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

●Chair, Institute Subcommittee, Program Committee, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry


AWARDS & HONORS (selected)

●Lilly Fellowship Award, Society of Biological Psychiatry
●Medicine Laughlin Fellow, American College of Psychiatry
●Psychiatric Resident of the Year Program, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
●Excellence in Psychiatry Award, Organon
●Presidential Scholar Award, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
●Lilly Pilot Research Award, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ●Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Depression, Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation
●Bristol-Myers Squibb Travel Award, American College of Neuropsychopharmaology
●Robinson-Cunningham Award, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
●Outstanding Mentor Award (twice), American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
●Best Doctors in America, Best Doctors, Inc.
●Klerman Award for Outstanding Clinical Research, National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD)
●Phenomenological, neurocognitive, and neuroimaging characterization of children at high risk for developing bipolar disorder. Theodore and Vada Stanley Foundation Research Award
●Quetiapine in the treatment of children and adolescents with mania associated with bipolar disorder. AstraZeneca
●Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Olanzapine in bipolar adolescents at first hospitalization. Eli Lilly Inc.
●The neurochemistry and treatment of adolescent bipolar depression. Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation.
●Cerebellar abnormalities in adolescent bipolar disorder. NARSAD Young Investigator Award


Do you trust KOL's (Key Opinion Leaders)in psychiatry such as Melissa DelBello with this heavy of an influence from a pharmaceutical company that sells psychiatric medications to have untainted views, opinions or research study outcome?



Pharmaceutical Industry directly influencing Americas doctors

Current:

Melissa DelBello, Principal Investigator Zyprexa trial (Olanzapine)

Exenatide for the Treatment of Weight Gain Associated With Olanzapine in Obese Adults- Clinical Trials gov



University Of Cincinnati, Sponsor
Eli Lilly, Collaborator



ProPublica Dollars for Docs database, giving transparency and information to the American public so they can learn just how much power and influence the pharmaceutical industry has in the not so dark background.

Is your doctor a pharma income doctor?


Are you?

Medical Schools plug holes in Conflict-of-Interest policies: ProPublica Dollars for Docs, Stanford and Kiki Chang

VIA ProPublica Medical Schools Plug Holes in Conflict-of-Interest Policies:

"Stanford University has taken disciplinary action against five faculty members at its medical school after determining they violated school policy by giving paid promotional speeches for drug companies, a spokesman said."

AND

"Paul Costello, a Stanford spokesman, declined to identify the disciplined faculty members or discuss their penalties. But in a written statement, he said the "actions are significant" and have or could impact the doctors' compensation or positions.

Stanford is one of several medical schools that took action against faculty members, overhauled conflict-of-interest policies, or provided additional education to staff members following ProPublica's report."

*The ProPublica article does not list Chang as one of the 5 faculty members who received disciplinary action.

But I suspect he could be. That's my opinion.

This is my connecting of the "dots" I've been watching and writing about for a long time. I had found Chang in Dollars for Docs in December 2010, and knew of Stanford's COI policy.

One would hope Kiki Chang, a KOL in the child bipolar arena is not conflicted with current pharma income, but one must always question this type of authority that directly influences parents of children.
---

Dollars for Docs database

Kiki Chang , Stanford; Advisory board at CABF (Child Adolescent Bipolar Foundation)

Dollars for Docs:

CHANG, KIKI Calif. Stanford Eli Lilly $5,963 2009

Q1-Q4 Healthcare Professional Education Programs: $1463.0, Advising/Consulting and International Education Programs: $4500.0 CHANG, KIKI

Update: Organized Wisdom removed per my request a 'Wisdom Card' page hosting my blog links alongside pharma ads

Organized Wisdom collects information via Twitter feeds and yesterday I discovered a "Wisdom Card" with a trademark of Organized Wisdom next to my blog name, giving the appearance that I had signed up for the service and the page was loaded with links to my blog pages.

I had never signed up and no one does, many people do not know their blogs are linked there and many doctors,nurses names are there also without their knowledge.

I complained because when the page below was clicked on it was loaded with links to my blog articles and

http://organizedwisdom.com/soulful-sepulcher/St/med

it was also loaded with pharmaceutical ads for ADHD drugs! it was offensive and intolerable for me due to obvious reasons known by regular readers of this blog, that psych meds have been the cause of extreme angst for my daughter who is now disabled and has permanent body damage from one drug in particular, besides the damage done by Zyprexa. That is a small background of why I was insistent to Organized Wisdom that they removed that page.

Here is where I announced the update this morning that Organized Wisdom did in fact listen to my request (this took a a few days and a lot of tweeting about it) and if you click on that link you will not see the pages linked to my blog, and if you do a 'Google Search' and come across one of my pages linked via Google such as this:

You'll see that it has been removed EXCEPT FOR THE CACHED

soulful sepulcher: CABF Pepsi Project fundraiser: Scientific ...
I am on a journey. Take a walk with me. Life is short. So stand tall.organizedwisdom.com/soulful-sepulcher-cabf-pepsi.../med - Cached

There, at the 'Cached' link you can see the page is loaded with an ad for antipsychotic ABILIFY which has a black box warning for diabetes !

Twitter
soulflsepulcher
#organizedwisdom removed this page per my request it used to have 'wisdomcard'/my links http://organizedwisdom.com/soulful-sepulcher/St/med 2 minutes ago via web

I will be working with Organized Wisdom to remove the 'cache' of my links, but for now this is a start.

*if you want to read about the CABF pepsi refresh fundraiser from that Organized Wisdom data scraped link now removed, you can just go to my label below and read that and others!

This blog does have a creative commons license all information here is my own including photos, and the link to that is on my side bar to the right and always has been there.

It's my content and my choice where to leave it.

A psychiatrist calls for Paxil study 329 retraction: many co-authors at CABF Scientific Advisory Council & in Dollars for Docs database

VIA Retired Psychiatrist blog 1 Boring Old Man, the doctor calls for the retraction of the scandalous PAXIL 329 study:

"Study 329 is still on the books, still saying, "Paroxetine is generally well tolerated and effective for major depression in adolescents." It’s a testimonial to the worst of times, and it needs to be retracted for the same reason that the statues and monuments of despots are destroyed when their regimes finally fall.." he wrote.


C.A.B.F. (Child Adolescent Bipolar Foundation) bpkids

"The Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation improves the lives of families raising children and teens living with bipolar disorder and related conditions."


Scientific Advisory Council

Hosts many of the Paxil 329 co-authors (one of the authors, Stan Kutcher is working in the mental health system in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was just defeated in a Liberal party election) are also in the Dollars for Docs database for receiving income from Big Pharma.

Efficacy of Paroxetine in the Treatment of Adolescent Major Depression: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

by MARTIN B. KELLER, M.D., NEAL D. RYAN, M.D., MICHAEL STROBER, PH.D., RACHEL G. KLEIN, PH.D., STAN P. KUTCHER, M.D., BORIS BIRMAHER, M.D., OWEN R. HAGINO, M.D., HAROLD KOPLEWICZ, M.D., GABRIELLE A. CARLSON, M.D., GREGORY N. CLARKE, PH.D., GRAHAM J. EMSLIE, M.D., DAVID FEINBERG, M.D., BARBARA GELLER, M.D., VIVEK KUSUMAKAR, M.D., GEORGE PAPATHEODOROU, M.D., WILLIAM H. SACK, M.D., MICHAEL SWEENEY, PH.D., KAREN DINEEN WAGNER, M.D., PH.D., ELIZABETH B. WELLER, M.D., NANCY C. WINTERS, M.D., ROSEMARY OAKES, M.S., AND JAMES P. MCCAFFERTY, B.S.
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2001, 40(7):762–772.


This creates COI, Conflict of Interest, and a possible Advisor biased influence considering the pharma companies paying them, are the makers of the psychiatric medications used for treatment of bipolar, ADHD, and depression etc.

Here are the CABF Scientific Advisors: (some are Paxil 329 co-authors and remain paid pharma speakers/consultants)

David Axelson, M.D.

Boris Birmaher, M.D. (PAXIL 329 co-author)

Kelly Botteron, M.D.

Gabrielle Carlson, M.D.(PAXIL 329 co-author) Eli Lilly $5000.00

Kiki Chang, M.D.Eli Lilly $5963.00

Christoph Correll Eli Lilly $1,406 GSK $9,000 Cephalon $4,800

Melissa DelBello Eli Lilly $4500

Robert L. Findling Eli Lilly $4,125 Pfizer $2,380 GSK $350

Jean Frazier

Mary Fristad

Cathryn A. Galanter, M.D.

Barbara Geller, M.D. (PAXIL 329 co-author)

Benjamin Goldstein, M.D

Ian Goodyer, M.D

Joseph Biederman, M.D.(Investigated by Senator Grassley for non disclosure of 1 million pharma income)

James J. Hudziak, M.D.

Kay Redfield Jamison, Ph.D.(author)

Paramjit Joshi, M.D.

Vivian Kafantaris, M.D.

Robert A. Kowatch, M.D.

Ellen Leibenluft, M.D.

Joan Luby, M.D.

Mani Pavuluri, M.D. J & J $1,134

Neal Ryan, M.D.(PAXIL 329 co-author possible)

Karen Dineen Wagner, M.D (PAXIL 329 co-author)

Janet Wozniak, M.D.(trialed Seroquel on preschoolers & trialed Risperdal on preschoolers with Joseph Biederman)

Eric Youngstrom, Ph.D.

The PAXIL 329 study:

Conclusions: Paroxetine (PAXIL/Seroxat) is generally well tolerated and effective for major depression in adolescents.
---

The retired psychiatrist says about the scandal:


"It has all the elements that define the era: hidden side effect data [suicidality], cherry-picked outcome measures, an industry-funded ghost-writer [Sally Laden], a principle investigator with undisclosed conflicts of interest [Martin Keller], high profile legal action against the drug company [GSK], US Senate Investigation [Martin Keller], a University that didn’t act [Brown], a chairman/author who "stepped down" [Martin Keller] – the list seems endless and continues to grow as the years roll by."
----

The scandal continues to spread into the veins of advocacy groups in the name of helping kids with mental illness. If the Paxil 329 is retracted it could be as hot of a discussion and scandal as the Wakefield Autism retraction.

It is time for the pharmaceutical companies to be removed from direct influence of our KOLs, scientists, researchers and study principal investigators and authors. Call me a purist. The drug industry does not belong in the pockets of these people.

---
MORE from the psychiatrist

retract study 329 – further thoughts…

Sunday 8 May 2011 (emphasized bold and large font mine, of course)

"There is no question that Study 329 and the reporting paper [Efficacy of Paroxetine in the Treatment of Adolescent Major Depression: A Randomized, Controlled Trial] is a paradigm for selective reporting, pharmaceutical industry’s interference in medical science, and a direct disavowal of the Hippocratic Oath. In addition, it reaches an indefensible conclusion – "Paroxetine is generally well tolerated and effective for major depression in adolescents." The question is, "Why hasn’t it been retracted?"

1 Boring Old Man blog, and reflecting on 4 years of blogging!

photo of miniature daffodils from my old garden planter box
--
i've got cut daffodils in a vase that are brightening my day every time i look at them!

be sure to catch up or keep up with the Boring Old Man blog where this week he linked to my clinical research trials post.

The doctor was able to tie the whole thing together with the main theme of the day over there: Seroquel and how it got to market, and all of the internal trial data, etc. One thing is clear this drug got past the sniff test at the FDA because AstraZeneca buried, cooked and promoted just what they wanted with data, and made sure the FDA was presented a nice and tidy package that would gain approval. Just my opinion, but look at the facts in the Boring Old Man blog Seroquel series, authored by a retired psychiatrist, who, while writing post after post is also reflecting personal thoughts as it pertains to the Seroquel topic.

It's been fun and interesting to see how the information and things have come out about Pharma and the internal workings of drug companies over the last 4 years.

Yes, that's how long I've been rambling on here, after finding a great blog where the author was the only one at the time writing about dangers of psych meds, and the childhood bipolar diagnosis explosion.

Journalist Philip Dawdy's blog, Furious Seasons (now on hiatus) gave my blog a boost back in 2007 with the thinking blogger award. It's been great! Many thanks to Philip, who was a mentor of sort while I learned the 'art of blogging', as well as one of my long time support of my daughter and myself during some very difficult times and psych ward events & hospitalizations.

Thanks to all of my readers and to readers of Furious Seasons who come over periodically and check on how things are going.

I'd be remiss if I didn't give a shout out to fellow blogger and Furious Seasons commenter Bob Fiddaman, on the release of his BOOK due out in April 2011. Fid has taken the Seroxat Sufferers blog one step further and wrote a book about his Paxil/Seroxat withdrawals.

Thanks for all of the support from all of my readers, past and current over the last 4 years, much as gone down and there is much more to look forward to in the future.


"Always go too far, because that's where you'll find the truth."~Camus

*hey thanks for the congrats posts! Borepatch! and Mark! it's been great making friends and meeting people from all around the world!

Pharmalot news: Should Health Advocacy Groups Disclose Funding? YES

VIA PHARMALOT

Should Health Advocacy Groups Disclose Funding?

VOTE in poll at Pharmalot

"...“Remember, none of these companies are giving money to these organizations because they’re nice guys. They’re in business and they believe they can help them. If their advocacy succeeds, Lilly makes money. It’s not a straight line, but it’s so close I think there has to be disclosure. And if they don’t want to disclose maybe they should mandate to disclose.” What do you think?" (read the entire article at Pharmalot)

$$$$$$$$$ profit before patients $$$$$$

International Bipolar Foundation Pepsi Project Fundraiser: Scientific Advisor Robert Friedman: pharma income $34,950 Eli Lilly

The International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF) Scientific Advisory board's Dr.Robert Friedman is in the ProPublica Dollars for Docs database.

The International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF)

"International Bipolar Foundation is a not for profit organization based in San Diego whose mission is to eliminate Bipolar Disorder through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support services for all affected; and to erase associated stigma through public education."

Dr.Robert Friedman

"He is a founding partner, President and CEO of PsyCare, Inc., a behavioral healthcare provider group with seven offices throughout San Diego. Dr Friedman is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCSD Department of Psychiatry, San Diego, providing clinical supervision to training child and adolescent psychiatrists. Dr. Friedman is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists. "



IBPF quest for $5000 from The Pepsi Refresh contest -through January 31,2011

•To provide a book for those with Bipolar and their caregivers
•To create 500 copies of "Healthy Living with Bipolar Disorder"
•To distribute 250 copies to mental health agencies and hospitals
•To distribute 250 copies to city libraries and universities
•To educate people how to live a healthy and successful life


ProPublica Dollars for Docs

Eli Lilly payments to California doctors

FRIEDMAN, ROBERT A San Diego $11,700 2010
Q1-Q2 Healthcare Professional Education Programs: $11700 FRIEDMAN, ROBERT A

FRIEDMAN, ROBERT A. San Diego $23,250 2009
Q1-Q4 Healthcare Professional Education Programs: $23250.0 FRIEDMAN, ROBERT A.

Total: $34,950.00
--

One must question the direct influence of a Scientific Advisor for a mental health organization who takes personal income from a pharmaceutical company that makes and sells psychiatric medications such as Cymbalta,Zyprexa and more.

Do bipolar-depression support groups such as IBPF and CABF have an ethical responsibility to its members to ensure the advisors on their scientific advisory boards do not have conflict of interest?

In my opinion, yes.

CABF Pepsi Project Fundraiser:Board of Directors & Scientific Advisor Dr.Mani Pavuluri:pharma income

CABF bpkids is a parent support website for parents and caregivers of children and teens diagnosed with mental illness--bipolar , depression, ADHD and more.

The Scientific Advisory Council member, and Board of Directors member Dr.Mani Pavuluri is listed in the ProPublica database, "Dollars for Docs" and interactive database where you can type in a doctor's name and see if they have received income from a pharmaceutical company.

CABF is an organization for parents of kids with bipolar and depression among other psychiatric diagnosis and is currently campaigning to win $250,000 from the Pepsi Refresh fundraiser.(ends December 31)

CABF has a duo board/council member, Dr.Mani Pavuluri taking personal compensation from a pharmaceutical company for speaking bureau fees. That is a conflict of interest. (if the board was to remain ethical without conflicts).

From the Board of Directors page at the CABF website

Mani Pavuluri, MD, Ph.D., FRANCZP Illinois Chair - Scientific Advisory Council
---

From ProPublica

Payee Nagamani Pavuluri

Listed Name Pavuluri, Nagamani

City Chicago

State IL

title M.D.

Division of J&J OMJPI (Ortho McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc)

Fees 350.00

Meals 148.00

Travel 637.00

Purpose Speaker Bureau Total: $1135.00

---

The doctor has influence on 2 of the CABF (Child Adolescent Bipolar Foundation) boards, which directly influences the parent members as well as leads one to question the role pharmaceutical company influence plays in Dr.Pavuluri's decisions and discussions of how to treat bipolar kids.

CABF Pepsi Project Fundraiser: Parent chat with Christoph Correll, recipient of drug company income

CABF (Child Adolescent Bipolar Foundation) bpkids-- Scientific Advisory Council member,Dr. Christoph Correll is listed in the ProPublica database, "Dollars for Docs" and interactive database where you can type in a doctor's name and see if they have received income from a pharmaceutical company.

Dr.Christoph Correll has taken income from 3 pharmaceutical companies that make psychiatric medications used for the treatment of bipolar & depression.

ProPublica

Christoff Correll

N.Y.Floral Park

Eli Lilly -Zyprexa,Prozac,Symbyax,Cymbalta,Strattera

$1,406

2009Q1-Q4

Advising/Consulting and International Education Programs: $1406.0

LECTURES CONSULTING INC.

Correll, ChristophN.Y.

Glen Oaks

GSK -Lamictal,Paxil
$9,000

2009Q2-Q4

Consulting: $9000

Christoph CorrellCorrell,

ChristopherN.Y.Glen Oaks

Cephalon -Gabitril
$4,800

2009Q1-Q4 (Quarter)

Honoraria

TOTAL $15,206.00

$35,000+ total for 6 Advisors at CABF
---

CABF boasts that the parent support organization does not receive drug company (pharma) income, though as recently as 2008 their website did list drug companies as donors.

Conflict of Interest

IS a term (COI)that the parents SHOULD be aware of and be informed as to what doctors on CABF's Scientific Advisory council receive direct influence via personal income from pharmaceutical companies.

These are the advisors who DIRECTLY INFLUENCE the parents and the protocol recommendations given to parents regarding the treatment of childhood bipolar and depression.

This is one example of how a conflicted doctor on the scientific advisory board at CABF who receives personal income from 3 pharma companies influences the parents who are searching for answers, for their children's mental health.

CABF CHAT WITH DR.CHRISTOPH CORRELL

MAY 2009:

In part (read the rest of the transcript at the CABF website where it was originally a 'live' chat.

Lisa
Dr. Correll, in your expert opinion, what would you say are the hallmark signs of early -onset bipolar disorder in children or early adolescents?

Christoph Correll MD
I am not sure if you mean hallmark symptoms of early-onset bipolar disorder or early onset symptoms before the disorder has started. Can you please clarify?

Lisa
Hallmark symptoms of the disorder.

Christoph Correll MD
"Well, that is easy because I am of the belief that youth should be diagnosed the same way as adults. That means that the DSM-IV diagnosis criteria need to be met: persistent and abnormal elated mood plus at least 3 B criteria or irritability plus at least 4 B criteria. In youth, the only question is whether the symptoms of full bipolar disorder last shorter because of brain maturational differences, or whether the shorter symptoms are part of a sub threshold disorder that might develop into full bipolar disorder."

AND

natg
Dr Correll, At what age can you determine that it is bipolar disorder? Right now, my son is diagnosed as mood disorder and ADHD. Does it become clearer as the child becomes older?

Christoph Correll MD
I don't think that there is a specific age when you can or cannot diagnose bipolar disorder in a child. However, it is much easier when the child matures and the brain is closer to what an adult's brain is. In adolescence, the bipolar disorder symptoms are usually clearer. As your child matures, most likely the direction of the symptoms (progression or resolution or change) should become clearer.

AND
(the doctor tells parents that antipsychotics alone can be used for treatment of mood disorders)

natg
Dr Correll, Do you feel that antipsychotics alone work effectively for treatment of mood disorders?

Christoph Correll MD
Yes. The newer, atypical antipsychotics have proven efficacy for mania in youth and in adults. In youth, the effects appear to be stronger and more beneficial than seen with conventional mood stabilizers, although we only have one single, short term real head-to-head comparison study (Seroquel versus Depakote). However, side effects can also be more problematic. This is why the lowest risk atypical antipsychotic(s) should be tried first and why we need more comparative effectiveness research in youth.

Unfortunately, many children and adolescents can not be helped with monotherapy of either lithium, an antiepileptic mood stabilizer or an atypical antipsychotic, and combination treatments are often needed, being more the rule than the exception, both in youth and in adults with bipolar disorder.

Since you were asking about "mood disorders", the issue of antidepressant efficacy of atypical antipsychotics is less uniform. Here Seroquel and, possibly, aripiprazole (Abilify) have the best data for atypical antipsychotics, with even stronger data in unipolar, unresponsive depression. For bipolar depression maintenance, lamotrigine (Lamictal) is a very good option that has also minimal side effects in general.

(*NOTE THAT GSK MAKES LAMICTAL)

AND
(the doctor reassures the parents the kids could grow out of bipolar rages)

teddyone
Do you think that the rages that children with bipolar disorder have tend to decrease more as they age?

Christoph Correll MD
Yes. As kids grow older, their frontal lobe develops more. The frontal lobe controls our impulses and behaviors. Also, reason and rationality increase with brain maturation. Thus, there is a good hope that the rages improve based on biological processes. In addition, psychosocial interventions can aide this process

AND

(the doctor tells one parent her daughters have a "much-increased" risk for mood disorders based on family history--in a chat consultation!

Roberta
Bipolar disorder has been in my family for many generations. Grandparents, mother, father, aunts, uncles, siblings, myself and my daughters. Is it at all possible that my daughters will not pass on this disorder to their children?

Christoph Correll MD
It is possible, but chances are high that your daughters will have a much-increased risk for having a mood disorder in their life.

---

The direct influence this doctor has/had with the parents participating in that chat and /or reading the transcript is enormous. The parents are often desperate for information, the child could be raging on medications (having drug-induced mood swings, psychosis and aggression for example)and the doctor reassures the parents the child could "grow out of it"--many parents seek answers as to what med cocktail to place their child on, listen to other parents and the CABF recommended doctors--and ask their own child's doctor about the drugs. This direct influence by "experts" at CABF who receive pharmaceutical company income from the psychiatric medication drug makers is conflict of interest.

The scientific advisory council needs to be cleaned up at CABF in my opinion, to give a non-biased, non- drug company influence to the advice and help this parent organization boasts to its members.

To have conflicted doctors influence parents this way is unethical and wrong.

CABF Pepsi Project Fundraiser: Advisor Mani Pavuluri in ProPublica "Dollars for Docs" database:Johnson & Johnson

CABF bpkids Scientific Advisory Council member, and past Chair of the CABF
Scientific Advisory Council Dr.Mani Pavuluri is listed in the ProPublica database, "Dollars for Docs" and interactive database where you can type in a doctor's name and see if they have received income from a pharmaceutical company.

CABF is an organization for parents of kids with bipolar and depression among other psychiatric diagnosis and is currently campaigning to win $250,000 from the Pepsi Refresh fundraiser.(ends December 31)

Mani Pavuluri, M.D.,
PhD, FRANZCP

Past Chair of the CABF
Scientific Advisory Council

Associate Professor, Pediatric Mood Disorders Program; Director, Pediatric Mood Disorders Clinic, University of Illinois at Chicago


Payee Nagamani Pavuluri
Listed Name Pavuluri, Nagamani
City Chicago
State IL

title M.D.
Division of J&J OMJPI (Ortho McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc)

Fees 350.00

Meals 148.00

Travel 637.00

Purpose Speaker Bureau

Total: $1135.00

---


*Janssen is the maker of antipsychotic Invega & Risperdal Consta, Invega Sustenna

$35,000+ total for 6 Advisors at CABF

CABF Pepsi Project Fundraiser:Advisor Robert L. Findling in ProPublica "Dollars for Docs" database: Eli Lilly

CABF bpkids Scientific Advisory Council member, Dr.Robert L. Findling is listed in the ProPublica database, "Dollars for Docs" and interactive database where you can type in a doctor's name and see if they have received income from a pharmaceutical company.

CABF is an organization for parents of kids with bipolar and depression among other psychiatric diagnosis and is currently campaigning to win $250,000 from the Pepsi Refresh fundraiser.(ends December 31)

Robert L. Findling, M.D.

Director Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio; Rocco L. Motto, M.D. Professor of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry,Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

ProPublica

Payee FINDLING, ROBERT L.

Listed Name FINDLING, ROBERT L.

City CLEVELAND

State OH

Number of activities 1

Patient Education Programs 0.00

Healthcare Professional Education Programs 0.00

Advising/Consulting and International Education Programs 4125.00

Total 4125.00

$35,000+ total for 6 Advisors at CABF

CABF Pepsi Project Fundraiser:Advisor Melissa DelBello in ProPublica "Dollars for Docs" database:Eli Lilly

CABF bpkids Scientific Advisory Council member, Dr.Melissa DelBello is listed in the ProPublica database, "Dollars for Docs" and interactive database where you can type in a doctor's name and see if they have received income from a pharmaceutical company.

CABF is an organization for parents of kids with bipolar and depression among other psychiatric diagnosis and is currently campaigning to win $250,000 from the Pepsi Refresh fundraiser.(ends December 31)

Melissa DelBello, M.D., M.S.

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Vice-Chair of Clinical Research, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio.

ProPublica

Payee PSYCHIATRIC PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, INC.

Listed Name DELBELLO, MELISSA P.

City CINCINNATI

State OH

Number of activities 1

Patient Education Programs 0.00

Healthcare Professional Education Programs 0.00

Advising/Consulting and International Education Programs 4500.00

Total 4500.00

$35,000+ total for 6 Advisors at CABF

CABF Pepsi Project Fundraiser:Advisor Christoph Correll in ProPublica "Dollars for Docs"database: Eli Lilly, GSK & Cephalon

CABF bpkids Scientific Advisory Council member,Dr. Christoph Correll is listed in the ProPublica database, "Dollars for Docs" and interactive database where you can type in a doctor's name and see if they have received income from a pharmaceutical company.

CABF is an organization for parents of kids with bipolar and depression among other psychiatric diagnosis and is currently campaigning to win $250,000 from the Pepsi Refresh fundraiser.(ends December 31)

Christoph Correll
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Medical Director, Recognition and Prevention (RAP) Program, The Zucker Hillside Hospital, New York.

Dr.Christoph Correll has taken income from 3 pharmaceutical companies

ProPublica

Christoff Correll


N.Y.
Floral Park

Eli Lilly
$1,406

2009Q1-Q4
Advising/Consulting and International Education Programs: $1406.0

LECTURES CONSULTING INC.

Correll, Christoph
N.Y.
Glen Oaks

GSK
$9,000

2009Q2-Q4
Consulting: $9000.00
Speaking: $0

Christoph Correll

Correll, Christopher
N.Y.
Glen Oaks

Cephalon
$4,800
2009Q1-Q4 (Quarter)
Honoraria

TOTAL $15,206.00

$35,000+ total for 6 Advisors at CABF

CABF Pepsi Project Fundraiser: Advisor Gabrielle Carlson in ProPublica "Dollars for Docs" database: Eli Lilly

CABF bpkids Scientific Advisory Council member, Dr.Gabrielle Carlson is listed in the ProPublica database, "Dollars for Docs" and interactive database where you can type in a doctor's name and see if they have received income from a pharmaceutical company.

CABF is an organization for parents of kids with bipolar and depression among other psychiatric diagnosis and is currently campaigning to win $250,000 from the Pepsi Refresh fundraiser.(ends December 31)

Gabrielle Carlson, M.D.
Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stonybrook State University of New York


Eli Lilly is the drug company that makes the antipsychotic Zyprexa, the antidepressant Cymbalta, Prozac, Strattera, Symbyax(Zyprexa/Prozac combo pill).
---
ProPublica

Payee CARLSON, GABRIELLE A.

Listed Name CARLSON, GABRIELLE A.

City STONY BROOK

State NY

Number of activities 1

Patient Education Programs 0.00

Healthcare Professional Education Programs 0.00

Advising/Consulting and International Education Programs 5000.00

Total 5000.00

$35,000+ total for 6 Advisors at CABF

CABF Pepsi Project Fundraiser: Advisor Kiki Chang in ProPublica Dollars for Docs database : Eli Lilly

CABF bpkids Scientific Advisory Council member, Dr. Kiki Chang is listed in the ProPublica database, "Dollars for Docs" and interactive database where you can type in a doctor's name and see if they have received income from a pharmaceutical company.

CABF is an organization for parents of kids with bipolar and depression among other psychiatric diagnosis and is currently campaigning to win $250,000 from the Pepsi Refresh fundraiser.(ends December 31,2010)

Kiki Chang, M.D.
Associate Professor and Director of Pediatric Bipolar Disorders Program, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California

Eli Lilly is the drug company that makes the antipsychotic Zyprexa, the antidepressant Cymbalta,Prozac,Strattera,Symbyax(Zyprexa/Prozac combo pill).
---

ProPublica

Payee CHANG, KIKI

Listed Name CHANG, KIKI

City STANFORD

State CA

Number of activities 3

Patient Education Programs 0.00

Healthcare Professional Education Programs 1463.00

Advising/Consulting and International Education Programs 4500.00

Total 5963.00

*$35,000+ total for 6 Advisors at CABF

**Stanford banned doctors with a policy for COI (Conflict of Interest)-- for taking pharma money but they do it anyway, including Dr. Kiki Chang who has received over $5000.00 from Eli Lilly.

Another reason for CABF-Child Adolescent Bipolar Foundation to question Chang's ethical conduct and remove him from their Scientific Advisory council--at minimum CABF should place a full financial disclosure page on their site for transparency to its membership and readers, about the doctors they affiliate with in this capacity.

CABF Pepsi Project Fundraiser: Advisor Janet Wozniak trialed Seroquel on 4 year olds

CABF bpkids Scientific Advisory board member Janet Wozniak trialed the antipsychotic Seroquel (not approved for use in children under age 10) on 4 year olds

Janet Wozniak, who once partnered with Joseph Biederman trialing the antipsychotic Risperdal in children has completed a study trialing the antipsychotic SEROQUEL, made by Astra Zeneca in children 4-6 years of age at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Biederman has been investigated by Senator Charles Grassley for a protocol breach in the/a Risperdal trial, as well as being investigated for non-disclosure of over $1 million dollars of pharmaceutical industry income into his personal bank account.
---

I wrote about Wozniak and Biederman here, in August 2007 in my series: "1999- 2007: OCD: ADHD: Childhood Bipolar Disorder: The Evolution of a Diagnosis" ; part 20

From that page:

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 38(8):960-965, August 1999.

FRAZIER, JEAN A. M.D.; MEYER, MICHELE C. M.D.; BIEDERMAN, JOSEPH M.D.; WOZNIAK, JANET M.D.; WILENS, TIMOTHY E. M.D.; SPENCER, THOMAS J. M.D.; KIM, GRACE S. M.A.R.; SHAPIRO, STEPHANIE B.A. -1999

Conclusions

Although limited by its retrospective nature, this study suggests that risperidone may be effective in the treatment of manic young people and indicates the need for controlled clinical trials of risperidone and other atypical neuroleptics in juvenile mania.

J. Am.Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 1999, 38(8):960-965. Copyright 1999 (C) American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry"
---

Janet Wozniak sits on the bpkids CABF Scientific Advisory board along with Joseph Biederman.

---
I find several things troubling to say the least about the recent Seroquel trial in 4-6 year olds.

Quetiapine for Mania In Preschool Children 4 to 6 Years of Age With Bipolar Disorder:


STUDY INCLUSION CRITERIA

•Male or female subjects, 4-6 years of age.

•Subjects must have a DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar I, bipolar II disorder or bipolar spectrum disorder and currently displaying manic, hypomanic, or mixed symptoms (with or without psychotic features) according to the DSM-IV based on clinical assessment and confirmed by structured diagnostic interview (Kidd Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia Epidemiological Version). Bipolar spectrum disorder (or sub-threshold bipolar disorder) is operationalized as having severe mood disturbance, which meets DSM-IV Criteria A for bipolar disorder but meet fewer elements in criteria B (only require 2 items for elation category and 3 for irritability).

Responsible Party: Massachusetts General Hospital ( Janet Wozniak, MD )
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00181883 History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: 2004-P-001509
Study First Received: September 13, 2005
Last Updated: June 18, 2010
Health Authority: United States: Institutional Review Board


--

There is no criteria for diagnosing pediatric bipolar disorder other than adult criteria currently listed in the DSM-IV. Who decided the 4-6 years olds were bipolar?

REBECCA RILEY

DIED at age 4 after being diagnosed bipolar and placed on Seroquel, Depakote and other psychiatric medications.

Both of her parents were eventually charged with murder, they are in prison and Rebecca's doctor's medical license was restored. Rebecca Riley's doctor testified under immunity.

----

I feel it is with reckless disregard for children's health that Mass General would allow such a study to take place, with a drug, Seroquel in known litigation for diabetes and weight gain lawsuits, a drug that is a powerful antipsychotic and not approved for use in children.

Rebecca Riley's death should have been a wake up call for America.

Apparently, it was not a wake up call for C.A.B.F. Child Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, Wozniak, Biederman, Mass General or our government agency that should be watching over the safety of children with psychiatric neuroleptics: THE FDA.

When will the pharmaceutical industry assault on our children stop?
Who will fight for the kids? do parents know Seroquel is not an antidepressant, it is an antipsychotic? do parents know that AstraZeneca buried data that showed they knew it could cause diabetes yet they marketed the drug anyway?

If you are a parent considering these childhood "mental illness" disorders being given to your toddlers and preschoolers, you need a wake up call, you need to research these drugs and pay attention. These drugs can cause permanent body and brain damage, they are not approved for use in little kids and there is no medical model for a diagnoses for childhood bipolar, and certainly no proof that the drugs prescribed are safe for long term use in kids.
--

Further reading:

This "Connect-the-dots" round up of KOL's and how they are all connected in "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive” – Big Pharma and the evil minions that market their Magic Poison Pills to Children" on the mental health awareness(without sugarcoating) blog, Is Something Not Quite Right with Stan

CABF Pepsi Project Fundraiser: 2 board members part of FDA approval for antipsychotics for 10 year olds: Seroquel, Zyprexa & Geodon

TODAY

CABF bpkids has announced via Twitter (by a mother who runs the account) that they do not receive money from pharmaceutical companies. The mother who tweets for CABF has been running a campaign on behalf of CABF to win $250,000 from the Pepsi Refresh contest that expires on December 31, 2010.

The tweet by @bpkids evening of December 28, 2010

We get no pharma money and are funded by donations - help us fund more programs by voting: http://ow.ly/3vaXs #mentalhealth

about 1 hour ago via HootSuite

Retweeted by 3 people

Reply Retweet @bpkids

CABF

---

Unethical and investigated scientific advisory board members DelBello & Biederman

THE SCANDAL BEHIND THE ADVISORY BOARDS AT CABF (CHILD ADOLESCENT BIPOLAR FOUNDATION)

Scientific Advisory Council:

Clinical Psychology & Psychiatry blog:

"Recently, the watchful eyes of Charles Grassley have been peering into the bank accounts of big name psychiatrists. Melissa DelBello and Joe Biederman (1, 2) from the Wonderful World of Child Bipolar were first, and now Alan Schatzberg has been hit. Schatzberg is the Chair of Psychiatry at Stanford University. He is also the President of the American Psychiatric Association."

AND

"It appears that Joe Biederman, King of Child Bipolar, has been caught with his hands in the cookie jar. More specifically, the New York Times and Bloomberg have noted that Biederman has received a great deal of pharma cash (like at least $1.6 million dollars from 2000-2007) and has not been very forthcoming about such funds. How was such undercover money revealed? Courtesy of Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican Senator whose prior investigation unearthed a similar situation impacting another Bipolar Child Key Opinion Leader, Melissa DelBello from the University of Cincinnati."

---

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

FDA Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee: Barbara Geller: pro-pediatric bipolar & medications: Seroquel XR recommended

Barbara Geller, temporary voter on FDA Seroquel Advisory committee roster, April 8, 2009.-FDA docket

Furious Seasons: April 08, 2009,FDA Panel Approves Seroquel As Add-On Depression Treatment.

"News is just out that the FDA's psychopharmacology advisory panel has recommended that the agency approve Seroquel, an atypical antipsychotic, as an add-on or adjunctive treatment for depression, meaning to be taken in addition to anti-depressants."-Philip Dawdy

---

FDA panel approved antipsychotics in kids age 10 and up -- Summer 2009

Conflicts of Interest!

CABF board member Dr. David Fassler represented the APA as well as CABF and Barbara Geller was a voting member of the FDA advisory panel. The drugs, Geodon, Seroquel and Zyprexa were approved for use in kids 10 and older.

--

There is an enormous conflict of interest (COI) when a non-profit organization that boasts helping kids and parents with bipolar and depression and more in children has people voting for drugs to use on FDA advisory panels for the use in children.

Until the members and volunteers, parents of CABF stop to think about WHO gives the advice to the members, the board the people and children of CABF -bpkids they will continue to search and seek help for their children. The drugs recommended are those created by pharma companies with agendas and investigated and fined by the DOJ (Dept of Justice) such as:

AstraZeneca

Eli Lilly

Forest

for illegal promotion and sales targeting kids for Seroquel, Zyprexa and Lexapro for examples.

The children have been pharmaceutical marketing targets for over a decade and the children are products of this and continue to be.

Not one parent at CABF can say there child is well. The parents will continue to listen to the spew I did a decade ago by their so-called experts: "cure in a decade" "blood test to determine if bipolar in a decade" "just have to find the right cocktail of meds" "not all meds work for one person" "complex" "famous people had bipolar you too can live with it"....