Editor of Medical Journal Stepping Down Over COI

[Guest guest]

Medical Journal Editor to Quit

In Wake of Disclosure Oversight

By DAVID ARMSTRONG

August 25, 2006 6:14 p.m.

The editor of the journal Neuropsychopharmacology is stepping down following

a flap over the medical journal's failure to disclose that the authors of a

paper reviewing a new treatment for depression had financial ties to the

treatment's developer.

One of the authors of the article was the editor himself, B.

Nemeroff, who is the chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral

Sciences at Emory University in Atlanta. In an email Friday, the owner of the

medical journal said Dr. Nemeroff had decided to step down as editor. They said

his

decision was " in part, based on the recent adverse publicity to the

journal. "

Attempts to contact Dr. Nemeroff for comment were unsuccessful.

The medical journal is published by the American College of

Neuropsychopharmacology, a medical society comprised of scientists and

physicians who study

the brain and behavior. In an email to its members, the college said Dr.

Nemeroff had been reappointed as editor in May.

Last month, the journal published a review of a new treatment for depression

in which a small device is implanted in the chest to deliver mild electrical

pulses to the vagus nerve in the neck. The Food and Drug Administration

approved the device, made by _Cyberonics_

(http://online.wsj.com/quotes/main.html?type=djn & symbol=cybx) Inc. of Houston,

for use in treating depression last

year. The authors conclude that vagus nerve stimulation is " a promising and

well-tolerated intervention that is effective in a subset of patients with

treatment-resistant depression. "

Of the nine authors of the review, eight are academic researchers who serve

as consultants to the company. None of those relationships were disclosed.

The ninth author is an employee of Cyberonics, which was reported in the review

article. On July 31, the journal published an online correction disclosing

the consulting relationships.

Approval of the device was controversial and a U.S. Senate investigation

found that FDA reviewers opposed use of the device for depression because

Cyberonics didn't demonstrate reasonable assurances of safety and

effectiveness.

Dr. Nemeroff, in a previous interview, said there was " no intent whatsoever

on my part or any of my co-authors to hide the fact we were working in

collaboration with Cyberonics. "

He also says the identification of one author as a Cyberonics employee as

well as a notation that the report was supported by a Cyberonics grant made

clear the review was connected to the company. Dr. Nemeroff says he serves on

two Cyberonics advisory boards but declined to say how much he was paid.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/27/2006 12:12:02 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,

jeaninem660@... writes:

Sharon, just in case you haven't been told lately, Thank you for

tackleing what is possably the most important part of this issue. you

are one tough cookie. I hope everyone realizes just what you went

through for the cause. and how much you have help those dealing with

lawsuits over mold. you are amazeing girl, keep up the great

work.

Thanks Jeannie. I tend to use the word " I " a lot these days because I have

been sued for libel by one of the major defensors in this whole sick

scenario. Don't want others too closely associated with " I " . It's a frivilous

suit

designed only to shut me up about what " I " know of the financially motivated

deceit of the matter. (I suppose I should add the disclaimer of " I believe "

to this statement).

But " I " would not be able to do what " I " do, if " I " .....well, ya know.

There are some very selfish, mean little children disguised as learned men, who

have been give carte blanche over the medical associations involved in the

mold issue. And you know what they say, It takes a village to RAZE a child!.

raze

1. to tear down; demolish; level to the ground: to raze a row of old

buildings.

Sharon

[Guest guest]

Sharon, just in case you haven't been told lately, Thank you for

tackleing what is possably the most important part of this issue. you

are one tough cookie. I hope everyone realizes just what you went

through for the cause. and how much you have help those dealing with

lawsuits over mold. you are amazeing girl, keep up the great

work.

>

>

> Medical Journal Editor to Quit

> In Wake of Disclosure Oversight

> By DAVID ARMSTRONG

> August 25, 2006 6:14 p.m.

> The editor of the journal Neuropsychopharmacology is stepping down

following

> a flap over the medical journal's failure to disclose that the

authors of a

> paper reviewing a new treatment for depression had financial ties

to the

> treatment's developer.

> One of the authors of the article was the editor himself,

B.

> Nemeroff, who is the chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and

Behavioral

> Sciences at Emory University in Atlanta. In an email Friday, the

owner of the

> medical journal said Dr. Nemeroff had decided to step down as

editor. They said his

> decision was " in part, based on the recent adverse publicity to

the

> journal. "

> Attempts to contact Dr. Nemeroff for comment were unsuccessful.

> The medical journal is published by the American College of

> Neuropsychopharmacology, a medical society comprised of scientists

and physicians who study

> the brain and behavior. In an email to its members, the college

said Dr.

> Nemeroff had been reappointed as editor in May.

> Last month, the journal published a review of a new treatment for

depression

> in which a small device is implanted in the chest to deliver mild

electrical

> pulses to the vagus nerve in the neck. The Food and Drug

Administration

> approved the device, made by _Cyberonics_

> (http://online.wsj.com/quotes/main.html?type=djn & symbol=cybx)

Inc. of Houston, for use in treating depression last

> year. The authors conclude that vagus nerve stimulation is " a

promising and

> well-tolerated intervention that is effective in a subset of

patients with

> treatment-resistant depression. "

> Of the nine authors of the review, eight are academic researchers

who serve

> as consultants to the company. None of those relationships were

disclosed.

> The ninth author is an employee of Cyberonics, which was reported

in the review

> article. On July 31, the journal published an online correction

disclosing

> the consulting relationships.

> Approval of the device was controversial and a U.S. Senate

investigation

> found that FDA reviewers opposed use of the device for depression

because

> Cyberonics didn't demonstrate reasonable assurances of safety and

effectiveness.

> Dr. Nemeroff, in a previous interview, said there was " no intent

whatsoever

> on my part or any of my co-authors to hide the fact we were

working in

> collaboration with Cyberonics. "

> He also says the identification of one author as a Cyberonics

employee as

> well as a notation that the report was supported by a Cyberonics

grant made

> clear the review was connected to the company. Dr. Nemeroff says

he serves on

> two Cyberonics advisory boards but declined to say how much he was

paid.

>

>

>