Healthy Skepticism Library item: 13202

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Spence D.
Bitter sweets
BMJ 2008 Mar 8; 336:(7643):562
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/336/7643/532

Abstract:

We clinicians have a stereotyped view of university academics: bearded cyclists, with sandals and odd terry socks, writing books that no one will read but that, fortunately, they never finish. But our academic comrades can enjoy a moment in the sun. Splashed across all the media, a recent meta-analysis of antidepressants concluded, after a reanalysis of unpublished data released through freedom of information legislation, that they are no better than placebo in all but severe cases of depression (BMJ 2008;336:466 doi: 10.1136/bmj.39503.656852.DB, 2008;336:532-4 doi: 10.1136/bmj.39504.662685.0F). The study seems to vindicate the position, held by many, that antidepressants are overprescribed. However, this isn’t a time to say “we told you so” but an opportunity to reflect.

Leaving aside the merits (or lack thereof) of the study, why weren’t these conclusions available a decade ago? Private companies own the data from trials and have enormous vested interests in controlling . . .

destwo@yahoo.co.uk