8/15/2006: Comments and trackbacks on this post are closed due to excessive spam
It’s been a tough week for ADHD medications in the blogosphere. Some of the discussion has been constructive, but before talking about those posts, I want to address this: Strattera and 130 reports of suicidality in one month. The press release avers that when the risks of Strattera were reported in 2005 there were 130 reports of self-harm and suicidal behavior in one month’s time. lawyersandsettlements.com posted about this press release on 2/15/06, one day ahead of the Swedish press release linked above.
The beginning of the Swedish press release sources it as “A not released discussion paper from the British medical agency (MHRA)…”. Here’s my question for John M Grohol, Psy.D : Why would you assume a press release about an unreleased discussion paper contains fact as presented in the paper itself? Further, the release does not state that there were 130 suicides in one month; rather, it states that there were 130 reports of suicidal and self-injurious behavior. It does not cite the source, nor does it state anywhere in the article how many suicides were completed or considered.
Finally, it’s worth noting that the OFFICIAL MHRA press release on 2/17/06 regarding the health risks and benefits of Strattera states the following as the first conclusion: “Overall the balance of risks and benefits of Strattera in the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents remains positive;“. There is an accompanying letter of caution to physicians calling for close monitoring of patients taking Strattera as well. Yet there was no update to the Psychcentral.com website reporting that.
I am not a Strattera apologist. I have some serious concerns about it, but I really object to the sensationalism that is swirling around the issue of ADHD medications in general. Irresponsible blogging about irresponsible press releases just makes it worse. Even Dr. Grohol admits that the release is political and “over the top”. That should have been his first clue that it was agenda-driven rather than fact-driven.
It is unhelpful to concerned parents to post hysterical reactions like this with no investigation of the underlying facts. As medical practitioners, your words will carry more weight than mine. So think before you post and look objectively at what you are claiming is “fact”.
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