Co-Chair of ACNP task force will also serve on FDA panel on Feb 2, 2004

[Guest guest]

According to an article in WebMD

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/79/96376.htm?lastselectedguid=%7B5FE84E9

Dr Mann (co-chair member ACNP " Task Force " ) will also be a member of

the FDA advisory panel leading the public hearing regarding SSRIs and

suicidal/violent behaviour on Feb 2 2004.

That Dr Mann won't be an objective team player in this game is pretty

obvious. Dr Mann -professor of psychiatry at Columbia University- is

one of GlaxoKline's experts and a leading suicidologist. In interviews

he systematically urges SSRI treatment in cases of depression. As a

suicidologist he even promotes to switch to other SSRIs to prevent a

" possible failure " in the outcome of antidepressant therapy. Dr Mann's

knowledge about the absence of akathisia or suicidal ideation studies on

SSRIs among the pharmaceutical companies sketches us another good picture of

this man.

Furthermore he is an advocate of marketing the illusion of proof of

causation with regards to a rise in SSRI anti-depressant prescriptions and a

lowering of the suicide rate. One of his quotes in an interview: " There may

be a relationship. We don't know for sure but that's our hypothesis. "

Don't be mislead!

Even evidence of a statistical correlation does not prove any causation!

Kalafat, president of the American Association of Suicidology and an

associate professor of psychology at Rutgers University, cautioned that the

results don't prove Mann's hypothesis.

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/7228/349988.html

Furthermore one has obviously forgotten that there are studies indicating

that the " effectiveness " of SSRIs can be attributed to the placebo effect!

http://www.ucc.uconn.edu/~wwwnews/rel98119.htm

http://www.apa.org/releases/placebo.html

http://www.mercola.com/2002/jul/31/antidepressants.htm

http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/placebo.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A42930-2002May6?language=printer

Let's all wait and see what will become of the (I think already determined

not to be a " possible failure " ) placebo FDA hearing on Feb 2 2004.

Will we witness a similar outcome as seen with the scandalous FDA

Lilly/Prozac hearing on 20 Sept 1991?

If Dr Mann may have his way, we will.

Charly

============================================================================

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/79/96376.htm?lastselectedguid=%7B5FE84E9

Group Finds No Suicide-Antidepressant Link

Depression Called Bigger Danger to Kids Than SSRIs

By DeNoon

WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

on Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Jan. 21, 2004

The SSRI class of antidepressants don't increase suicide in children and

teens, a medical group says.

SSRIs -- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors -- include the popular

antidepressant drugs Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and Celexa.

Reports of suicide in young people treated with these drugs last October led

to an FDA warning about the drugs. The FDA's warning followed a stronger

action by the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. The

British agency advised doctors not to use the drugs in children and teens.

Both the U.S. and U.K. are currently studying the issue. An FDA advisory

panel will consider the issue at a Feb. 2 meeting.

But the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology -- an expert group of

psychiatrists and pharmacologists -- convened its own task force on the

issue. That task force today released its own findings. It's co-chair, J.

Mann, MD, is professor of psychiatry and radiology at Columbia

University and chief of the neuroscience department at New York State

Psychiatric Institute.

" Our conclusion is that when you look at the SSRIs as a group, there is

evidence they are effective for treating depression in children and

adolescents, " Mann tells WebMD. " Instead of being a risk for suicidal

behavior, they are potentially therapeutic. Doctors must go on treating

depression, and SSRIs appear to be a reasonable choice. "

" No SSRI/Suicide Report " Still Preliminary

The ACNP task force looked at all available published information. But the

panel stresses that it did not have access to " a substantial amount " of

unpublished data -- including detailed findings held by drug companies --

that will be made available to the FDA panel. Mann will be a member of the

FDA panel. He says he's keeping an open mind.

" The FDA is examining the data we looked at plus it is examining in more

detail the data provided from pharmaceutical companies in terms of the type

of suicidal behaviors that have occurred, " Mann says. " That is new evidence.

Based on how that is assessed, the FDA is attempting to look in a uniform

way across seven or eight kinds of antidepressants. That will offer a unique

opportunity to look at the data individually and collectively. "

Still, Mann says, there's a critical need for more research. People enrolled

in clinical trials tend to be less suicidal -- and given much better, much

more detailed care -- than those treated in real-world settings.

" What are needed are new studies of the efficacy of SSRIs in depressed kids

who are suicidal, " Mann says.

" Most studies actually excluded kids with suicidal behavior. So we must

study the effect of SSRI treatment on those suicidal thoughts and behaviors

in a way that's up front in the design of the clinical trials. "

Depression More Deadly Than SSRIs

Despite this lack of specific research, Mann argues that SSRIs do vastly

more good than harm for depressed young people.

" In the U.S. each year there are 4,000 suicides in young people between ages

of 10 and 24 -- it's the third leading cause of death in this age group, " he

says. " Suicide is a complication of psychiatric illnesses. And the commonest

cause of suicide is untreated depression. Identifying effective treatments

for depression in kids is very crucial. "

Mann says the task force found strong evidence that SSRI treatment helps

depressed kids. Moreover, he cites compelling circumstantial evidence:

Suicide rates started going down when SSRIs became

available.

" There has been a 14-year steady decline in suicide rates in young people, "

Mann says. " Across 15 countries there has been a 33% decline in suicide

rates amongst youths. What is causing that -- what

arrested and reversed what had been a steady increase in teen suicide? In

most countries that decline began after the introduction of SSRIs. "

And there's another bit of circumstantial evidence. Mann cites an

unpublished study showing that the vast majority of young people who

committed suicide were not treated for their depression. And even in

the minority who were prescribed SSRIs, autopsy reports found no sign of the

drugs.

" You see a pattern of suicide happening in untreated or noncompliant

individuals, " Mann says. " So if you thought that antidepressants were

somehow triggering suicidal behavior -- well, you just don't see it.

All the evidence points to lack of treatment as a factor in suicidal

behavior. "

Not all mental health experts agree with the ACNP task force's finding that

SSRIs are helpful in treating depression in young people.

" There are no compelling data indicating a clinically meaningful benefit for

antidepressants over placebo or over alternate treatment approaches, "

University of Connecticut psychology professor Irving Kirsch, PhD, told

WebMD in an August 2003 interview.

All but one member of the 10-member ACNP panel -- including Mann -- has

served as a consultant to or has received research support or grants from

pharmaceutical companies.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOURCES: J. Mann, MD, professor, psychiatry and radiology, Columbia

University; chief, department of neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric

Institute. Irving Kirsch, PhD, professor,

department of psychology, University of Connecticut. Executive Summary:

Preliminary Report of the Task Force on SSRIs and Suicidal Behavior in

Youth, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Jan.

21, 2004. U.K. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

© 2003 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved

_________________________________________________________________

Scope out the new MSN Plus Internet Software — optimizes dial-up to the max!

http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-us & page=byoa/plus & ST=1

[Guest guest]

This is truly chilling but not at all surprising. Do we know who the rest

of the committee members are yet?

Leah

Co-Chair of ACNP task force will also serve on FDA

panel on Feb 2, 2004

>

> According to an article in WebMD

>

>

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/79/96376.htm?lastselectedguid=%7B5FE84E9

>

>

> Dr Mann (co-chair member ACNP " Task Force " ) will also be a member of

> the FDA advisory panel leading the public hearing regarding SSRIs and

> suicidal/violent behaviour on Feb 2 2004.

>

> That Dr Mann won't be an objective team player in this game is pretty

> obvious. Dr Mann -professor of psychiatry at Columbia University- is

> one of GlaxoKline's experts and a leading suicidologist. In

interviews

> he systematically urges SSRI treatment in cases of depression. As a

> suicidologist he even promotes to switch to other SSRIs to prevent a

> " possible failure " in the outcome of antidepressant therapy. Dr

Mann's

> knowledge about the absence of akathisia or suicidal ideation studies on

> SSRIs among the pharmaceutical companies sketches us another good picture

of

> this man.

>

> Furthermore he is an advocate of marketing the illusion of proof of

> causation with regards to a rise in SSRI anti-depressant prescriptions and

a

> lowering of the suicide rate. One of his quotes in an interview: " There

may

> be a relationship. We don't know for sure but that's our hypothesis. "

>

> Don't be mislead!

>

> Even evidence of a statistical correlation does not prove any causation!

>

> Kalafat, president of the American Association of Suicidology and an

> associate professor of psychology at Rutgers University, cautioned that

the

> results don't prove Mann's hypothesis.

>

> http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/7228/349988.html

>

> Furthermore one has obviously forgotten that there are studies indicating

> that the " effectiveness " of SSRIs can be attributed to the placebo effect!

>

> http://www.ucc.uconn.edu/~wwwnews/rel98119.htm

> http://www.apa.org/releases/placebo.html

> http://www.mercola.com/2002/jul/31/antidepressants.htm

> http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/placebo.htm

> http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A42930-2002May6?language=printer

>

> Let's all wait and see what will become of the (I think already determined

> not to be a " possible failure " ) placebo FDA hearing on Feb 2 2004.

>

> Will we witness a similar outcome as seen with the scandalous FDA

> Lilly/Prozac hearing on 20 Sept 1991?

> If Dr Mann may have his way, we will.

>

> Charly

>

>

============================================================================

>

>

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/79/96376.htm?lastselectedguid=%7B5FE84E9

>

> Group Finds No Suicide-Antidepressant Link

> Depression Called Bigger Danger to Kids Than SSRIs

> By DeNoon

>

> WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

> on Wednesday, January 21, 2004

> Jan. 21, 2004

>

> The SSRI class of antidepressants don't increase suicide in children and

> teens, a medical group says.

>

> SSRIs -- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors -- include the popular

> antidepressant drugs Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and Celexa.

>

> Reports of suicide in young people treated with these drugs last October

led

> to an FDA warning about the drugs. The FDA's warning followed a stronger

> action by the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

The

> British agency advised doctors not to use the drugs in children and teens.

> Both the U.S. and U.K. are currently studying the issue. An FDA advisory

> panel will consider the issue at a Feb. 2 meeting.

>

> But the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology -- an expert group of

> psychiatrists and pharmacologists -- convened its own task force on the

> issue. That task force today released its own findings. It's co-chair, J.

> Mann, MD, is professor of psychiatry and radiology at Columbia

> University and chief of the neuroscience department at New York State

> Psychiatric Institute.

>

> " Our conclusion is that when you look at the SSRIs as a group, there is

> evidence they are effective for treating depression in children and

> adolescents, " Mann tells WebMD. " Instead of being a risk for suicidal

> behavior, they are potentially therapeutic. Doctors must go on treating

> depression, and SSRIs appear to be a reasonable choice. "

>

> " No SSRI/Suicide Report " Still Preliminary

>

> The ACNP task force looked at all available published information. But

the

> panel stresses that it did not have access to " a substantial amount " of

> unpublished data -- including detailed findings held by drug companies --

> that will be made available to the FDA panel. Mann will be a member of

the

> FDA panel. He says he's keeping an open mind.

>

> " The FDA is examining the data we looked at plus it is examining in more

> detail the data provided from pharmaceutical companies in terms of the

type

> of suicidal behaviors that have occurred, " Mann says. " That is new

evidence.

> Based on how that is assessed, the FDA is attempting to look in a uniform

> way across seven or eight kinds of antidepressants. That will offer a

unique

> opportunity to look at the data individually and collectively. "

>

> Still, Mann says, there's a critical need for more research. People

enrolled

> in clinical trials tend to be less suicidal -- and given much better, much

> more detailed care -- than those treated in real-world settings.

> " What are needed are new studies of the efficacy of SSRIs in depressed

kids

> who are suicidal, " Mann says.

>

> " Most studies actually excluded kids with suicidal behavior. So we must

> study the effect of SSRI treatment on those suicidal thoughts and

behaviors

> in a way that's up front in the design of the clinical trials. "

>

> Depression More Deadly Than SSRIs

>

> Despite this lack of specific research, Mann argues that SSRIs do vastly

> more good than harm for depressed young people.

>

> " In the U.S. each year there are 4,000 suicides in young people between

ages

> of 10 and 24 -- it's the third leading cause of death in this age group, "

he

> says. " Suicide is a complication of psychiatric illnesses. And the

commonest

> cause of suicide is untreated depression. Identifying effective treatments

> for depression in kids is very crucial. "

>

> Mann says the task force found strong evidence that SSRI treatment helps

> depressed kids. Moreover, he cites compelling circumstantial evidence:

> Suicide rates started going down when SSRIs became

> available.

>

> " There has been a 14-year steady decline in suicide rates in young

people, "

> Mann says. " Across 15 countries there has been a 33% decline in suicide

> rates amongst youths. What is causing that -- what

> arrested and reversed what had been a steady increase in teen suicide? In

> most countries that decline began after the introduction of SSRIs. "

>

> And there's another bit of circumstantial evidence. Mann cites an

> unpublished study showing that the vast majority of young people who

> committed suicide were not treated for their depression. And even in

> the minority who were prescribed SSRIs, autopsy reports found no sign of

the

> drugs.

>

> " You see a pattern of suicide happening in untreated or noncompliant

> individuals, " Mann says. " So if you thought that antidepressants were

> somehow triggering suicidal behavior -- well, you just don't see it.

> All the evidence points to lack of treatment as a factor in suicidal

> behavior. "

>

> Not all mental health experts agree with the ACNP task force's finding

that

> SSRIs are helpful in treating depression in young people.

>

> " There are no compelling data indicating a clinically meaningful benefit

for

> antidepressants over placebo or over alternate treatment approaches, "

> University of Connecticut psychology professor Irving Kirsch, PhD, told

> WebMD in an August 2003 interview.

>

> All but one member of the 10-member ACNP panel -- including Mann -- has

> served as a consultant to or has received research support or grants from

> pharmaceutical companies.

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------

>

> SOURCES: J. Mann, MD, professor, psychiatry and radiology, Columbia

> University; chief, department of neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric

> Institute. Irving Kirsch, PhD, professor,

> department of psychology, University of Connecticut. Executive Summary:

> Preliminary Report of the Task Force on SSRIs and Suicidal Behavior in

> Youth, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Jan.

> 21, 2004. U.K. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

>

> U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

> © 2003 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Scope out the new MSN Plus Internet Software - optimizes dial-up to the

max!

> http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-us & page=byoa/plus & ST=1

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

This is truly chilling but not at all surprising. Do we know who the rest

of the committee members are yet?

Leah

Co-Chair of ACNP task force will also serve on FDA

panel on Feb 2, 2004

>

> According to an article in WebMD

>

>

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/79/96376.htm?lastselectedguid=%7B5FE84E9

>

>

> Dr Mann (co-chair member ACNP " Task Force " ) will also be a member of

> the FDA advisory panel leading the public hearing regarding SSRIs and

> suicidal/violent behaviour on Feb 2 2004.

>

> That Dr Mann won't be an objective team player in this game is pretty

> obvious. Dr Mann -professor of psychiatry at Columbia University- is

> one of GlaxoKline's experts and a leading suicidologist. In

interviews

> he systematically urges SSRI treatment in cases of depression. As a

> suicidologist he even promotes to switch to other SSRIs to prevent a

> " possible failure " in the outcome of antidepressant therapy. Dr

Mann's

> knowledge about the absence of akathisia or suicidal ideation studies on

> SSRIs among the pharmaceutical companies sketches us another good picture

of

> this man.

>

> Furthermore he is an advocate of marketing the illusion of proof of

> causation with regards to a rise in SSRI anti-depressant prescriptions and

a

> lowering of the suicide rate. One of his quotes in an interview: " There

may

> be a relationship. We don't know for sure but that's our hypothesis. "

>

> Don't be mislead!

>

> Even evidence of a statistical correlation does not prove any causation!

>

> Kalafat, president of the American Association of Suicidology and an

> associate professor of psychology at Rutgers University, cautioned that

the

> results don't prove Mann's hypothesis.

>

> http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/7228/349988.html

>

> Furthermore one has obviously forgotten that there are studies indicating

> that the " effectiveness " of SSRIs can be attributed to the placebo effect!

>

> http://www.ucc.uconn.edu/~wwwnews/rel98119.htm

> http://www.apa.org/releases/placebo.html

> http://www.mercola.com/2002/jul/31/antidepressants.htm

> http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/placebo.htm

> http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A42930-2002May6?language=printer

>

> Let's all wait and see what will become of the (I think already determined

> not to be a " possible failure " ) placebo FDA hearing on Feb 2 2004.

>

> Will we witness a similar outcome as seen with the scandalous FDA

> Lilly/Prozac hearing on 20 Sept 1991?

> If Dr Mann may have his way, we will.

>

> Charly

>

>

============================================================================

>

>

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/79/96376.htm?lastselectedguid=%7B5FE84E9

>

> Group Finds No Suicide-Antidepressant Link

> Depression Called Bigger Danger to Kids Than SSRIs

> By DeNoon

>

> WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

> on Wednesday, January 21, 2004

> Jan. 21, 2004

>

> The SSRI class of antidepressants don't increase suicide in children and

> teens, a medical group says.

>

> SSRIs -- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors -- include the popular

> antidepressant drugs Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and Celexa.

>

> Reports of suicide in young people treated with these drugs last October

led

> to an FDA warning about the drugs. The FDA's warning followed a stronger

> action by the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

The

> British agency advised doctors not to use the drugs in children and teens.

> Both the U.S. and U.K. are currently studying the issue. An FDA advisory

> panel will consider the issue at a Feb. 2 meeting.

>

> But the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology -- an expert group of

> psychiatrists and pharmacologists -- convened its own task force on the

> issue. That task force today released its own findings. It's co-chair, J.

> Mann, MD, is professor of psychiatry and radiology at Columbia

> University and chief of the neuroscience department at New York State

> Psychiatric Institute.

>

> " Our conclusion is that when you look at the SSRIs as a group, there is

> evidence they are effective for treating depression in children and

> adolescents, " Mann tells WebMD. " Instead of being a risk for suicidal

> behavior, they are potentially therapeutic. Doctors must go on treating

> depression, and SSRIs appear to be a reasonable choice. "

>

> " No SSRI/Suicide Report " Still Preliminary

>

> The ACNP task force looked at all available published information. But

the

> panel stresses that it did not have access to " a substantial amount " of

> unpublished data -- including detailed findings held by drug companies --

> that will be made available to the FDA panel. Mann will be a member of

the

> FDA panel. He says he's keeping an open mind.

>

> " The FDA is examining the data we looked at plus it is examining in more

> detail the data provided from pharmaceutical companies in terms of the

type

> of suicidal behaviors that have occurred, " Mann says. " That is new

evidence.

> Based on how that is assessed, the FDA is attempting to look in a uniform

> way across seven or eight kinds of antidepressants. That will offer a

unique

> opportunity to look at the data individually and collectively. "

>

> Still, Mann says, there's a critical need for more research. People

enrolled

> in clinical trials tend to be less suicidal -- and given much better, much

> more detailed care -- than those treated in real-world settings.

> " What are needed are new studies of the efficacy of SSRIs in depressed

kids

> who are suicidal, " Mann says.

>

> " Most studies actually excluded kids with suicidal behavior. So we must

> study the effect of SSRI treatment on those suicidal thoughts and

behaviors

> in a way that's up front in the design of the clinical trials. "

>

> Depression More Deadly Than SSRIs

>

> Despite this lack of specific research, Mann argues that SSRIs do vastly

> more good than harm for depressed young people.

>

> " In the U.S. each year there are 4,000 suicides in young people between

ages

> of 10 and 24 -- it's the third leading cause of death in this age group, "

he

> says. " Suicide is a complication of psychiatric illnesses. And the

commonest

> cause of suicide is untreated depression. Identifying effective treatments

> for depression in kids is very crucial. "

>

> Mann says the task force found strong evidence that SSRI treatment helps

> depressed kids. Moreover, he cites compelling circumstantial evidence:

> Suicide rates started going down when SSRIs became

> available.

>

> " There has been a 14-year steady decline in suicide rates in young

people, "

> Mann says. " Across 15 countries there has been a 33% decline in suicide

> rates amongst youths. What is causing that -- what

> arrested and reversed what had been a steady increase in teen suicide? In

> most countries that decline began after the introduction of SSRIs. "

>

> And there's another bit of circumstantial evidence. Mann cites an

> unpublished study showing that the vast majority of young people who

> committed suicide were not treated for their depression. And even in

> the minority who were prescribed SSRIs, autopsy reports found no sign of

the

> drugs.

>

> " You see a pattern of suicide happening in untreated or noncompliant

> individuals, " Mann says. " So if you thought that antidepressants were

> somehow triggering suicidal behavior -- well, you just don't see it.

> All the evidence points to lack of treatment as a factor in suicidal

> behavior. "

>

> Not all mental health experts agree with the ACNP task force's finding

that

> SSRIs are helpful in treating depression in young people.

>

> " There are no compelling data indicating a clinically meaningful benefit

for

> antidepressants over placebo or over alternate treatment approaches, "

> University of Connecticut psychology professor Irving Kirsch, PhD, told

> WebMD in an August 2003 interview.

>

> All but one member of the 10-member ACNP panel -- including Mann -- has

> served as a consultant to or has received research support or grants from

> pharmaceutical companies.

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------

>

> SOURCES: J. Mann, MD, professor, psychiatry and radiology, Columbia

> University; chief, department of neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric

> Institute. Irving Kirsch, PhD, professor,

> department of psychology, University of Connecticut. Executive Summary:

> Preliminary Report of the Task Force on SSRIs and Suicidal Behavior in

> Youth, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Jan.

> 21, 2004. U.K. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

>

> U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

> © 2003 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Scope out the new MSN Plus Internet Software - optimizes dial-up to the

max!

> http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-us & page=byoa/plus & ST=1

>

>

>

>

>