And isn’t it amazing that people with schizophrenia undergo miraculous cures in Africa of all places. Could it be that their “cure” is a convenient part of an inability to treat the condition due to treatment’s costly nature? Yes, I think so.

My guess is that PA’s “advocating” against anyone who tells him he should seek treatment for his own brain disorder.

Denial is a huge problem in mental illness, as well as oppositionality and accusing everyone else of having the problem.

Unfortunately, lacking a healthy social life due to their symptoms, these people often find refuge in making ad hominem attacks on the internet.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) lists Russell Barkley’s conflicts of interest outside the parameters of practice set by the AACAP: “[He] receives or has received research support, acted as a consultant and/or served on a speaker’s bureau for Eli Lilly and Company, Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc, and McNeil Pediatrics. Dr. Barkley also has or has had books/intellectual property with Guilford Publications.”

http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/member_information/practice_information/practice_parameters/conflicts_of_interest_for_practice_parameters_not_listed_in_parameter

No wonder why Gina Pera seemed a little defensive. Shame on Gina for dismissing Discover’s article without disclosing the fact that she has inherent conflicts of interest related to this very issue.

I have never read Gina Pera before, I will will certainly not start now.

“Dr. Biederman is one of the most influential researchers in child psychiatry and is widely admired for focusing the field’s attention on its most troubled young patients. Although many of his studies are small and often financed by drug makers, his work helped to fuel a controversial 40-fold increase from 1994 to 2003 in the diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder, which is characterized by severe mood swings, and a rapid rise in the use of antipsychotic medicines in children. The Grassley investigation did not address research quality.”

Antipsychotics are not approved for children, and, antipsychotics kill children as well as creating other severe health risks:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-05-01-atypical-drugs_x.htm

Here are some uncomfortable facts for the pharmaceutical companies:

25% of people recover from schizophrenia after 1 episode, and will never need medication.

Another 30% will recover after 10 years and never need medication there after.

Yet, according to the World Health Organization, in Africa the recovery rate for schizophrenia is much higher than in the US… and they DO NOT use medication.

Perhaps any claim of “enlightenment” in regards to treatment of mental illness needs to take a look in the mirror when dehumanizing diagnosis and social isolation are mainstays in the “treatment” process.

Anyways, great job keeping us up to date on the insidious nature of the inherent conflict of interest between the medical profession and the 70 billion dollar a year pharmaceutical industry.

Can you say medication-phobic, anti-science, 18th century mindset?

Yes, your lede says it all.

I don’t know what kind of science you think you’re covering, but it’s not brain science.

I haven’t read your magazine in a long time, and I won’t be reading it again.,

How amusing it must be for your editors to slap up a sensational headline like this–without the facts, without thinking of the repercussions, without thinking of any possible agenda behind the politicians grandstanding on this issue.

This is an embarrassment for a magazine that ostensibly covers science.

Either learn how to report responsibly or shut it down.