Comments on: Director Of Controversial TMAP Program Leaves http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/director-of-controversial-tmap-program-leaves/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:46:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: MK http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/director-of-controversial-tmap-program-leaves/#comment-557788 MK Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:49:45 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15297#comment-557788 I was almost killed by the TMAP, lost my business and essentially went mad from their combination of SSRIs and old drugs. As a matter of fact, I, the patient, discovered that they were combining an anti-histamine type drug and an SSRI that could cause cardiac arrest. The phenomenon has been seen in ERs all over the country and is called serotonin intoxication. It is very likely what killed Brittany Murphy. After I started to do research into the neurological and endocrine effects of fluoride (look at what SSRIs contain BTW) and embarked on a campaign to detoxify myself, I began to get better. I was a victim of iatrogenic medicine precipitated by the stupid TMAP. I am now completely broke and having to rebuild my life at 58. I hate the TMAP. I was almost killed by the TMAP, lost my business and essentially went mad from their combination of SSRIs and old drugs. As a matter of fact, I, the patient, discovered that they were combining an anti-histamine type drug and an SSRI that could cause cardiac arrest. The phenomenon has been seen in ERs all over the country and is called serotonin intoxication. It is very likely what killed Brittany Murphy.

After I started to do research into the neurological and endocrine effects of fluoride (look at what SSRIs contain BTW) and embarked on a campaign to detoxify myself, I began to get better. I was a victim of iatrogenic medicine precipitated by the stupid TMAP. I am now completely broke and having to rebuild my life at 58. I hate the TMAP.

]]> By: Pam http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/director-of-controversial-tmap-program-leaves/#comment-374962 Pam Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:58:23 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15297#comment-374962 When are they going to put these drug companies and their corrupt "non" profit foundations behind bars? They have gotten so powerful with their huge campaign contributions, lobbying, support of presidential candidates, that they think they're untouchable..and they probably are. If you or I did half the things the RWJF and JnJ did, we'd be locked up with the key thrown away. It's time they paid the piper. How about stock manipulation? How about the fact they PAY to have laws created through their NON profit foundation from which both JnJ and RWJF profit from the sales of Nicoderm, Nicorette and now Splenda and bariatric surgery? My GOD. They've arificially inflated JnJ stock. Isn't that an SEC violation? Or even against the RICO act? Racketeering and corruption with a pattern...isn't that the definition? When are they going to put these drug companies and their corrupt “non” profit foundations behind bars? They have gotten so powerful with their huge campaign contributions, lobbying, support of presidential candidates, that they think they’re untouchable..and they probably are. If you or I did half the things the RWJF and JnJ did, we’d be locked up with the key thrown away. It’s time they paid the piper. How about stock manipulation? How about the fact they PAY to have laws created through their NON profit foundation from which both JnJ and RWJF profit from the sales of Nicoderm, Nicorette and now Splenda and bariatric surgery? My GOD. They’ve arificially inflated JnJ stock. Isn’t that an SEC violation? Or even against the RICO act? Racketeering and corruption with a pattern…isn’t that the definition?

]]> By: laurie http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/director-of-controversial-tmap-program-leaves/#comment-373022 laurie Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:01:59 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15297#comment-373022 "The stimulus for TMAP was a very credible approach to trying to find the best way to treat persons with mental illness. The program may have had limitations, but it has provided much value to the field" TMAP was a cookie cutter approach which attempted to simplify treatment of a complex group of diagnosis' using the most expensive drugs available. Those expensive drugs are now under fire for their life threatening physical effects, ie. diabetes. I don't see much "value" there. “The stimulus for TMAP was a very credible approach to trying to find the best way to treat persons with mental illness. The program may have had limitations, but it has provided much value to the field”

TMAP was a cookie cutter approach which attempted to simplify treatment of a complex group of diagnosis’ using the most expensive drugs available. Those expensive drugs are now under fire for their life threatening physical effects, ie. diabetes. I don’t see much “value” there.

]]> By: Nancy Fruge http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/director-of-controversial-tmap-program-leaves/#comment-373019 Nancy Fruge Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:36:43 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15297#comment-373019 To correct my previous post, I believe Dr. Alphs is with Janssen now...my apologies. To correct my previous post, I believe Dr. Alphs is with Janssen now…my apologies.

]]> By: Ed Silverman http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/director-of-controversial-tmap-program-leaves/#comment-371370 Ed Silverman Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:44:15 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15297#comment-371370 Hi Larry, With all due respect, I would argue my post is not biased. I simply noted that Rush has left and that he was the director of a program that was controversial. And I then briefly mentioned why it was controversial. Like it or not, he gained the profile he did, in part, because of the controversy. And that became news. As a result, his departure is news. Regards ed Hi Larry,

With all due respect, I would argue my post is not biased. I simply noted that Rush has left and that he was the director of a program that was controversial. And I then briefly mentioned why it was controversial. Like it or not, he gained the profile he did, in part, because of the controversy. And that became news. As a result, his departure is news.

Regards
ed

]]> By: Nancy Fruge http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/director-of-controversial-tmap-program-leaves/#comment-371362 Nancy Fruge Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:44:35 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15297#comment-371362 Dr. Alphs commented on bias and credibility. Here are two related articles on the concepts of bias and credibility: 1. The price of independence by Joe Collier (BMJ 2006; 332; 1447-1449). 2. How do STAR*D results help our depressed patients? The Carlat Psychiatry Report, Vol. 5, No. 1, January 2007. Dr. Alphs: Are you still with Pfizer Inc? Dr. Rush, formerly employed by UT Southwestern, has reported he owns Pfizer stock. UT Southwestern’s Policy and Procedures on Conflicts of Interest in Research was revised in December 2007. The new policy included a mandate that "stock ownership of any amount connected with any Business Entity with which the Faculty Member, Family, or Associated Entity has a clinical research relationship will not be allowed." A recent reminder from NIH on financial conflict of interest requirements - previously discussed on this site - is posted on UT Southwestern's Conflict of Interest Web page as well. As promised, NIH Director Elias Zerhouni is making progress in the enhancement of his agency’s oversight of institutions’ financial conflicts of interest – or to borrow Senator Grassley’s words, “add teeth” to NIH rules on disclosure. Arnold Relman offers a solution, “These investigators should be well paid by their institutions, and they should have the time and resources needed to do their research, but they should not expect to be personally enriched beyond that [Relman AS, Improper Rewards of Research, The Boston Globe, July 12, 2008].” Dr. Alphs commented on bias and credibility.

Here are two related articles on the concepts of bias and credibility:

1. The price of independence by Joe Collier (BMJ 2006; 332; 1447-1449).

2. How do STAR*D results help our depressed patients? The Carlat Psychiatry Report, Vol. 5, No. 1, January 2007.

Dr. Alphs: Are you still with Pfizer Inc? Dr. Rush, formerly employed by UT Southwestern, has reported he owns Pfizer stock. UT Southwestern’s Policy and Procedures on Conflicts of Interest in Research was revised in December 2007. The new policy included a mandate that “stock ownership of any amount connected with any Business Entity with which the Faculty Member, Family, or Associated Entity has a clinical research relationship will not be allowed.”

A recent reminder from NIH on financial conflict of interest requirements - previously discussed on this site - is posted on UT Southwestern’s Conflict of Interest Web page as well.

As promised, NIH Director Elias Zerhouni is making progress in the enhancement of his agency’s oversight of institutions’ financial conflicts of interest – or to borrow Senator Grassley’s words, “add teeth” to NIH rules on disclosure.

Arnold Relman offers a solution, “These investigators should be well paid by their institutions, and they should have the time and resources needed to do their research, but they should not expect to be personally enriched beyond that [Relman AS, Improper Rewards of Research, The Boston Globe, July 12, 2008].”

]]> By: Larry Alphs http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/director-of-controversial-tmap-program-leaves/#comment-371347 Larry Alphs Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:50:43 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15297#comment-371347 I regret that this article is so biased against a very important investigator and clinician who has dedicated his career to serving the mentally ill. The stimulus for TMAP was a very credible approach to trying to find the best way to treat persons with mental illness. The program may have had limitations, but it has provided much value to the field. There should be more balance in this discussion rather than empty allegations that inspire and promote the ill will of others. I further regret that we have to decend to depths of threatening violence when critiquing the work of some of our most dedicated and an thoughtful citizens. I regret that this article is so biased against a very important investigator and clinician who has dedicated his career to serving the mentally ill. The stimulus for TMAP was a very credible approach to trying to find the best way to treat persons with mental illness. The program may have had limitations, but it has provided much value to the field. There should be more balance in this discussion rather than empty allegations that inspire and promote the ill will of others.

I further regret that we have to decend to depths of threatening violence when critiquing the work of some of our most dedicated and an thoughtful citizens.

]]> By: Meg http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/director-of-controversial-tmap-program-leaves/#comment-371260 Meg Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:04:40 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15297#comment-371260 Yes, there are many of us with dead children who would like to take a crack at him. Yes, there are many of us with dead children who would like to take a crack at him.

]]> By: Perry http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/director-of-controversial-tmap-program-leaves/#comment-371240 Perry Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:10:36 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15297#comment-371240 I hope there is an extradition treaty with Singapore. I hope there is an extradition treaty with Singapore.

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