Friday, May 19, 2006

FDA Committees Examine Concerns About Psychiatric Drugs Used by Children

The Psychiatric Times takes a look at the continued FDA investigation of Psych drugs used on children. Of course they put up a brave face regarding the possible effectiveness of the treatments.

But on the other hand, they admit that they do not know what they are doing without realizing it. Thomas Laughren, MD, director, division of psychiatry products at the FDA says it is more difficult to conduct reliable clinical trials with antidepressants:

"That is because we don't understand most psychiatric disorders at a biological level," he explained. "All we have is the phenomenology of the disease. It is not like some types of heart disease or cancer where you understand the disease at the pathological level and have a better chance of distinguishing between different subgroups of patients who might respond differently to one drug or another."


The problematic nature of the trials is also discussed, although it sounds like they are definitely getting nervous. Maybe they should take a pill. They certainly have enough of them.

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