April 1

Fig Leaf Reviews and Closed APA Sessions_ScoopNews

"The Peer-Review ‘Fig Leaf ‘" is an interview that has just been posted on SccopNews (New Zealand) 

The interview is about the lack of integrity in so-called "peer reviewed" medical publications, as well clinical trial presentations at the American Psychiatric Association.

Of newsworthy note:
A presentation by Dr. Charles Schulz, chairman of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 25, at the forthcoming annual APA conference in New Orleans.
Its’  title: "How to help parents of a first psychotic episode patient."  

You would think that parents would be especially welcome at such a session.
Not so.

Mary Weiss, a mother whose son, Dan Markingson, committed suicide in a commercial drug trial (testing AstraZeneca’s drug, Seroquel) which was conducted by Dr. Schulz, wants to attend.  But she was told that his session is one of those closed to the public.

Indeed, APA emails to science reporter, Suzan Mazur,* confirmed that Dr. Schulz’ session is closed–parents are barred.

"Charles Schulz’s Case Conference is only open to residents. Case conferences are closed to nonmembers because of the clinical nature of the discussions and the patient confidentiality restrictions inherent in presenting cases. Members are bound by ethics confidentiality and nonmembers are not, which is why nonmembers are restricted."

Dr. Schulz’ response to the mother’s request added insult to tragedy. In an email to Suzan Mazur from Dr. Schulz’ office indicates that "Dr. Schulz would like to send her his book on schizophrenia…which is published by the APA and has chapters about psychotherapy and family therapy."

Of note, at the APA conference in 2000, Dr. Schulz made unsupportable, false claims stating that Seroquel was "significantly superior" to older neuroleptics.
In a 2000 AstraZeneca press release, Schulz is quoted stating:  "I hope that our findings help physicians better understand the dramatic benefits of newer medications like SEROQUEL because, if they do, we may be able to help ensure patients receive these medications first."

AstraZeneca’s own analysis of the same clinical trial data refuted Dr. Schulz’ claims of superiority and showed a significant risk for diabetes. 

See, U of M psychiatrist S. Charles Schulz: misleading claims about Seroquel? Minneapolis Mental Health Examiner , March 19, 2009 

Of note: The APA 2010 Conference U.S Steering Committee:

Nancy C. Andreasen, M.D. niversity of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics; obert N. Golden, M.D. niversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Stephen R. Marder, M.D. CLA Neuropsychiatric Institute; Jerrold F. Rosenbaum, M.D. assachusetts General Hospital; Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D. tanford University School of Medicine;  Charles Schulz, M.D. University of Minnesota Medical School

So, what is it that psychiatrists and the APA–who are under the influence of drug manufacturers who fund them–do not want parents or the public to know?

What secret information / or disinformation do they transmit to treating psychiatrists?

SCOOP News interview here, also posted on CounterPunch
PDF of article can be found here

* Suzan Mazur, author of "Altenberg 16: An Exposé of the Evolution Industry," whose reports have appeared in the Financial Times, The Economist, Forbes, Newsday, Philadelphia Inquirer, Archaeology, Connoisseur, Omni, as well as on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), CBC and MBC. She has been a guest on McLaughlin, Charlie Rose and various Fox Television News programs.

Vera Hassner Sharav


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