Furious Seasons

July 30, 2008

Controversial Harvard Child Psychiatrist Claims FDA Affirms Child Bipolar Disorder

There was a recent op-ed in the Boston Globe by an emeritus Harvard med school professor criticizing the many financial conflicts of the group of child psychiatrists headed by Joseph Biederman. Among other things, he pounded on the meds given to children for the alleged child bipolar disorder.

Now, Janet Wozniak, a Harvard child psych doc and one of the Biederman clan, defends the use of meds in kids and makes an interesting claim about the FDA, in a letter to the paper that appears today.

"The FDA approvals of Risperdal and Abilify for this purpose not only suggest that at the proper dose, these atypical antipsychotic medications are safe and effective for use as indicated, but affirm that the FDA accepts the validity of pediatric bipolar disorder and the need to treat it."

The approvals she refers to are both within the last year or so. What's weird is her claim that the FDA accepts the validity of pediatric bipolar disorder since the alleged disorder does not appear in the DSM-IV and it seems a bit of a stretch to suggest that drug approvals mean that the FDA has validated a condition that is not accepted by the central diagnostic manual for psychiatry.

I've queried the FDA to learn its view on this matter, but have not heard back yet.

Wozniak also states the following:

"When patients suffer, and available treatments are lacking, it is the job of experts to innovate and explore new options for hope....Families faced with the anguish and disruption of bipolar disorder need reassurance that steady progress is being made in understanding and treating this complex diagnosis."

Last year, Wozniak described her fellow child bipolar disorder propagandists as working in "uncharted water." Now they are the harbingers of hope.

I guess when you are at Harvard you get to break out all the heroic metaphors to describe yourself.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at July 30, 2008 08:58 AM

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Comments

My post re: Wozniak-which includes the link to the Biderman/Wozniak 1999 study for use of Risperdal in kids.

Wozniak, also part of or former part of CABF, Childhood Adolescent Foundation advisory board; and Biederman authored a study in 1999 for the use of Risperdal in kids with juvenile bipolar disorder.

They have had an agenda for a decade, and once the FDA approved those drugs it gave them the power they've always wanted to influence the drugging of children with some sort of "legit" ability--thanks to the FDA seal of approval this entire team that rides the axis of evil promoting bipolar in kids and the drugging of children they are now able to push it further.

This is a group of elitists from the east coast that have stomped on American children for far too long! Self-appointed thought leaders who line their pockets with pharma money and forget to report it!

I hope Grassley looks at CABF's accounting books and connections next!!

Posted by: Stephany at July 30, 2008 09:31 AM

Ah Stephany! Ever sagacious and hit the nail on the head.

I wish i had a nickel for every time someone brings up bipolar children, lugging in dog-eared copies of the Papolous book to one of my support groups. While I have to take the middle ground- I recommend other books, give them literature, borrow the other facilitator;s Blackberry so they can see FS and Stephany's site......

Last night I got yelled at I had nothing to say because I have never been blessed with children, therefore what do I know about this subject.

Only what I have read, pro and con. Only what I saw in my last hospital stay, 12-16 year olds so doped up on Throrizne they didn't even know what year it was or who the pop tart flavor of the month was. Only what I have learned from Stephany, who to me is the picture you would see if you look up in the dictionary of "caring mom".

And I know there are a lot more parents like her out there, and a lot more kids messed up with this. What will they be llike in 20 years when they hit their 30s and 40s'? What quality of life can they look forward to.

Why haven't the Papolouses said anything about this, or the other journalists/bloggers who kiss their ass?

Sorry for the tirade. It's not like me. Blame it on the wrong time of the month, I guess.

Posted by: susan at July 30, 2008 10:55 AM

Wozniak: Some background follows from a Newsweek piece on child bipolar...

"The bipolar brain tries to compensate for its weak prefrontal cortex by roping in other areas to help; these areas may now become dysfunctional, too. Child psychiatrists thus face an enormous practical challenge: they often can't treat one disorder without affecting another one. "It's like a balloon where you push on one side and the other side pops out," says Wozniak, the MGH psychiatrist who helped define childhood bipolar disorder. With kids like Max, she adds, parents often have to settle for "just having one part of the symptoms reduced."

Not sure if the FDA also accepts the balloon analogy.

Posted by: CL Psych at July 30, 2008 12:02 PM

"... but affirm that the FDA accepts the validity of pediatric bipolar disorder and the need to treat it."

As far as I know, the purpose of the FDA is to determine whether or not items for consumption in the United States are safe for consumers - not to act as arbiter or deciding factor in disputes within the general or specialized medical communities regarding the validity and nature of illnesses. If the FDA has determined that antipsychotics are safe for children, I would hardly say that fact alone is a valid argument for the existence of child bipolar disorder. I tend to think that someone who would argue otherwise has an agenda other than straightforward logic and truth. Posted by: Stormgazer at July 30, 2008 12:24 PM

"Harbingers of hope?" I was about to mention that great propaganda phrase "axis of evil" but previous poster did first... thank you.

Posted by: LillyNC at July 30, 2008 12:50 PM

The bipolar brain tries to compensate for its weak prefrontal cortex by roping in other areas to help; these areas may now become dysfunctional, too

What a bunch of excrement. Who believes this stuff? How many years of college does it take to come up with these fantasies?

When did people forget that children's brains are busy growing?

Any child's brain has less of a prefrontal cortex than a teen or adult.

It's natural and it takes time spent deliberately using it to grow and develop it. Give them until they are adults to decide if it is not growing properly good grief.

When did the FDA become the government agency that decides on the validity of mental illness? Where is that mandate spelled out?

Where is the scientific proof of this childhood bipolar?

It's Bull Shit followed by More Shit that is eventually Piled Higher and Deeper.

Pharma Money is the source of childhood bipolar end of story.

These poor kids being experimented on with neuroleptics are the unprotected unwitting victims of this tragedy.

Posted by: Jane at July 30, 2008 04:44 PM

The balloon analogy, though pure baloney, is kind of poetic. Makes me wish it was one of those gas balloons that would take these people from Harvard up, up, and away.

As for the Papalouse, I once email her and asked where she was getting all her Pharma money from. She was mighty indignant: Maybe book sales and conferences are enough to pay the rent.

Posted by: sorrowful at July 30, 2008 05:03 PM

Janice and her husband used to be on the board of CABF, they had a falling out and severed ties from CABF.

Posted by: Stephany at July 30, 2008 07:48 PM

It's amazing that people can read these stuffs they publish in mags and believe it!

Posted by: Ana at July 31, 2008 02:22 AM