Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Bipolar Disorder in Children: USA


A reprint: 

Prediction is often the domain of Quantum Physics and the most spectacular prediction of all time has to be Einstein’s theory of General Relativity regarding gravity and light. The 1919 eclipse on May 29 proved his theory and made Einstein famous overnight. 


Historic picture Royal Observatory Greenwich



To quote the NASA site: "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence"!

It was unusual to find prediction being used in modern medicine let alone Child Psychiatry.

The 
San Francisco Chronicle 
March 27,2009
“Dr Biederman appears to be promising drugmaker Johnson & Johnson in advance that his studies on the antipsychotic drug risperidone will prove the drug to be effective when used on preschool age children.”
And we do not have to wait for an eclipse. Wow! I have to declare that I have heard him at a conference and I reported this in a previous blog: Bipolar and ADHD: Boys and Breasts.

The San Francisco Chronicle article continues:


“Biederman's status at Harvard and his research have arguably made him, until recently, America's most powerful doctor in child psychiatry. Biederman has strongly pushed treating children's mental illnesses with powerful antipsychotic medicines. Diagnoses like ADHD and pediatric bipolar disorder, along with psychiatric drug use in American children, have soared in the last 15 years. No other country medicates children as frequently.”

No other country medicates children as frequently!
“Reports from court actions, along with an ongoing investigation of conflict of interest charges led by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, threaten to topple Biederman from his heretofore untouchable Olympian heights. Biederman has cried foul.”

“He says the drug company dollars (declared and undeclared) have not influenced him or his research. He had agreed temporarily to sever most of his financial ties with the drug industry pending the outcome of the ongoing inquiry.

“He claims his science and publications are pure, supported by a peer-review system that is supposed to verify accuracy and authenticity. Finally, he challenges as office gossip reports of his legendary anger and intolerance of those who disagree or don't support his proposals.”

In 
The New York Times:

"In a contentious Feb. 26 deposition between Dr. Biederman and lawyers for the states, he was asked what rank he held at Harvard. 


“Full professor,” he answered.
“What’s after that?” asked a lawyer, Fletch Trammell.
“God,” Dr. Biederman responded.
“Did you say God?” Mr. Trammell asked.
“Yeah,” Dr. Biederman said.


Latest: 3 Researchers at Harvard Are Named in Subpoena

Related Posts:
Lithium Bipolar and Nanking
Bipolar Disorder in Children
Bipolar and ADHD: Boys and Breasts
Statins-Harvard-Roosevelt
Bipolar Disorder: Biederman Einstein God.
Antipsychotics: Really?
Bipolar and ADHD: Boys and Breasts
Grand Round: Medicine and War
Bipolar Disorder: Lithium-The Aspirin of Psychiatry?

1 comment:

JaneB said...

Wow...this is an eye opening article! My son was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder and I have been really hesitant to put him on drugs at such a young age. Through a little research of my own online, I have found that there are a lot of alternatives to treat bipolar, like the techniques at http://onlineceucredit.com/edu/social-work-ceus-bc. I recommend parents with bipolar children take a look.