Monday, July 23, 2007

Psychiatrist Group Names DSM Task Force

With a Tip of the Hat to the PharmaLot Blog

In a move that is likely to be closely scrutinized, the American Psychiatric Association today named its new task force for overseeing development of its 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-V. [...] The task force has 27 members, who rep scientists from psychiatry and other disciplines, clinical care providers, and consumer and family advocates.

This task force, which will revise the DSM over the next five years, holds a great deal of sway, since their actions influence prescribing habits in the US and elsewhere. But it’s more than that. The DSM is where a condition is officially sanctioned as a disorder, which of course, also determines treatment. For these reasons, the APA has come under fire - as have other doctors - for ties to industry.

Of the 27 task force members, the APA says eight had no relationship with industry and 19 disclosed relationships with industry during any of the 36 months leading up to their nomination.

[...]

The APA, by the way, has been embroiled in the controversy over antidepressants and Black Box warnings, which the FDA mandated in early 2005 after the drugs were linked to suicide in youngsters. Since then, the APA has repeatedly urged regulators to rethink their position over concerns that patients and doctors are being scared away from using meds. As a result, though, some patient advocates charge the APA is too quick to side with industry.


The press release with the announcement can be seen here

The detailed list of members of the taskforce with their disclosures can be seen here

We remain extremely skeptical.

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