Dear Philip:

And so from the darkness there comes the light. Unfortunately in these countless cases where influence and power was abused for the sake of profit and professional standing; and with the consequences being so high in human suffering and abuse. Even these small efforts at the quick fix in integrity, disclosure, and balance will not, and have not slowed the pharmaceutical beast down one iota. When one road is closed or blocked in their path, they have and will use thier massive resources and means to build a brand new road around it.

I am a ferment doubting Tomas by both nature and experience. Only when I see real change in the lives of those that suffer with serious mental disorders will I be in the least bit convinced of anything. For now I still am troubled, disheartened, and disturbed by the mental health system we have running today.

Those that suffer from major mental health disorders have been demonized by the profession and by public society for so long; it’s unfathomable to imagine measureable change is coming around the corner anytime soon.

I guess I have to remember as I did when I worked with the developmentally disabled that progress many times has to be measured in very small baby steps.
You should feel great pride, accomplishment, and internal peace within my friend Philip that you have been a large part of this movement toward change. “Thank you” never seems to say and be enough; but the work you do here is appreciated beyond words, and is reflected in the real faces of each person that regains their dignity and humanity as they walk free away from the institutionalization of mental health imprisonment whether through physical or pharmaceutical means.

Yours Truly

Stan

Disclosure of industry ties has become required by most medical journals. The New York Times should adhere to the same standard. Apropos of the above, today's health article in the NYT on depression--"Redefining Depression as Mere Sadness"--was penned by Ronald Pies, a psychiatrist with long-standing financial and career-advancing ties to the drug industry. (See Integrity in Science: http://www.cspinet.org/integrity/watch/200809021.html). Dr.

Although once Senator Grassley's investigations into psychiatric corruption were underway, Pies, as editor of a Psychiatric Times, took a bold voice in volunteering cooperation at his journal, Pies' true view of the relationship between financial ties to industry and the conduct of science is evident in his reaction to the public outcry over Joseph Biederman's story (See NYT June 8, 2008 "Researchers fail to reveal full drug pay"). He wrote, "The issue of how bipolar disorder should be diagnosed in very young children is a matter of scientific investigation, and should not be piggy-backed on a discussion of specific researchers or controversial medical incidents in the news." (http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2007/06/24/treating_a_childs_mental_illness/).

This is as good as saying that disclosure of conflicts of interest and reports of data corruption in industry are entirely beside the point, when in fact they ARE the point.