ADHD is B-O-G-U-S +++ and ANOTHER Antipsychotic story +++ Write a letter to the Editor

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Letters to the editor: tblount@...

High Point Enterprise (North Carolina)Pediatrician believes ADHD does not existBy Jimmy TomlinOct 26,2008HIGH POINT - If there's such a thing as an "ADHD Establishment," Dr. Bose Ravenel stands firmly in the anti-establishment camp.And that badge - he refers to himself as "a rebel with a cause" - is one the 70-year-old High Point pediatrician wears proudly."I don't relish it," he says, "but it doesn't bother me because I'm convinced about what we're doing."Ravenel, who has practiced in High Point since 1988, has co-authored a new book - with noted family psychologist Rosemond - that likely will make him a lightning rod for criticism from the aforementioned ADHD Establishment.In the book, "The Diseasing of America's Children: Exposing the ADHD Fiasco and Empowering Parents To Take Back Control" ( , $24.99), the authors not only hold the ADHD Establishment's feet to the fire - they toss the establishment into the fire, using such pointed phrases as "a travesty of science," "flimsy evidence," "a scandal waiting to erupt," and "an effort that has resulted in the manufacture of diseases that do not exist."Specifically, the authors contend that those "diseases that do not exist" - namely, ADD (attention-deficit disorder), ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) - are based on bad science, most likely do not derive from a genetic brain disorder, and therefore do not require potentially harmful medications for treatment.They further contend that the classic ADHD symptoms such as inattention, forgetfulness, inability to focus, hyperactivity and impulsivity can be addressed through a behavioral treatment model rather than resorting to drugs."We believe the professional literature is skewed in the direction of overstating the effect of medications on these children and understating the potential harmful effects," Ravenel explains.Ironically, Ravenel admits he's a former member of the ADHD Establishment."That's why I don't blame them, because I was there with them," he says. "I never knew any different. As a busy doctor, you tend to read the journals that are published by authors who have heavy pharmaceutical company ties, so you're not aware of this whole alternative perspective."About seven or eight years ago, though, Ravenel says he began to question the alarming rate at which children were being diagnosed with ADHD, particularly considering the absence of the disease in previous generations."That got me to begin looking seriously at those rare individuals who would write articles suggesting that ADHD is not real - I looked at why they said that," Ravenel recalls.His conclusion? ADHD is B-O-G-U-S.Ravenel and Rosemond argue in their book that in the 30-plus years since ADHD was recognized as a behavior disorder, no objective diagnostic criteria have been developed; no ADHD gene has been discovered; and no ADHD biochemical imbalance has been quantified."We don't believe there's any evidence to support (ADHD's existence), and there's a compelling amount of evidence to support what we're proposing," Ravenel says. "We think everybody ought to be trying this alternative first."Ravenel's primary concern, he says, is the longterm impact of ADHD medications such as Ritalin, Concerta and Adderall."Even establishment members would agree that no one knows what the effects of longterm exposure to these psychotropic drugs would be," he says.The authors recommend a four-prong behavioral approach in lieu of medication:• Reframe the child's self-image from that of a person with a disabled brain to one with great potential. That can be done, they say, through an old-fashioned parenting approach that combines "powerful love and powerful discipline."• Eliminate or restrict the child's exposure to electronic media such as TV, video games and computers. "Children get addicted to these electronic stimuli," Ravenel says.• Change the child's diet from the typical American diet of fast food, processed carbohydrates and sugars to more healthy foods. Also, fish oil supplements have been shown to benefit learning and behavior, Ravenel says.• De-emphasize the current educational trend that requires kindergartners to learn what once wasn't learned until first grade, because that trend causes more children to struggle and fail.This approach has made believers out of numerous parents who have brought their children to Ravenel's practice at Cornerstone Pediatrics, he says."If you talk to parents whose children were faced with the prospect of their child being on medication for the rest of their life, and then within just a few weeks or months the problem is solved, they get really passionate," Ravenel says. "And they can't believe other parents are not being exposed to the same idea."Link to story: http://hpe.southernheadlines.com/index.cfm?section=8 & story=5371

TMAP - Texas Medication Algorithm Project (algorithm = guideline) is a scam created by various drug companies. These companies are ripping off State Medicaid programs including Florida by promoting the most expensive new antipsychotics, Abilify, Geodon, Risperdal, Seroquel and Zyprexa over the older cheaper antipsychotics. A study by the federal government's National Institute of Mental Health showed that these new antipsychotic drugs, which cost roughly 10 times more than the older drugs, performed no better and had just as many side effects. (CMAP is the Child version)

Letters to the editor here: http://www.dallasnews.com/cgi-bin/lettertoed.cgi

The Dallas Morning News

State medication protocol researchers sought money from drug firmsSunday, October 26, 2008By EMILY RAMSHAWAUSTIN – Pharmaceutical company money, initially rejected as being ethically questionable, was eventually sought and used by researchers developing a list of preferred psychiatric drugs for children in state care, according to documents reviewed by The Dallas Morning News.A spot on the since-suspended children's drug plan could have meant millions to pharmaceutical firms. The documents released to The News were collected by the Texas attorney general's office, which is suing a pharmaceutical company accused of trying to influence researchers on a similar adult drug plan.Citing the pending lawsuit over the adult plan, officials in two state health agencies declined to comment on the Children's Medication Algorithm Project, or CMAP – which was put on indefinite hold in May. The researchers have insisted that pharmaceutical companies never influenced their work.The CMAP records obtained by The News don't refute this. Nor were the researchers banned from soliciting funding from drug companies.However, the records reflect a common pattern in state and university medical programs. Unable to get ample government funding, researchers are increasingly forced to rely on drug company money – even when it's their last resort.When CMAP was started in the late 1990s, researchers were loath to accept pharmaceutical grant funding. At an April 1998 meeting, "it was concluded that we should try to avoid this if possible," according to minutes of a meeting between CMAP researchers.By June 1999, researchers needed more grant money and had changed their minds. CMAP's director, M. Lynn Crismon, head of the University of Texas College of Pharmacy, wrote to at least 10 drug companies, asking for donations."Although we have received grant funding in support of this effort," he wrote, "these amounts fall short of the funds required to complete this important outcomes project."By late that year, CMAP budgets included pledges for $10,000 a year from Wyeth and Pfizer, an $80,000 one-time grant from Forest Laboratories, and $70,000 from Eli Lilly.

While a few of the line items seem to limit the grant to CMAP's "patient and family education" program, others are listed as unrestricted CMAP "research gifts."When, in 2006, questions surfaced about drug company connections to the adult drug plan, however, CMAP researchers were again cautious about drug company money.And as recently as this spring, Dr. Crismon assured top state health officials there was no pharmaceutical link to CMAP, saying that any drug company money was used for a patient and family education study unrelated to CMAP."No pharma funding has ever been received for CMAP to the best of my knowledge," he wrote. The Eli Lilly and Forest money "was not for CMAP."Eli Lilly officials, however, confirmed that the company donated $70,000 to the state for a CMAP education program.These mixed messages seem to have made their way to the top. In a 2007 e-mail, Department of State Health Services Commissioner Lakey asked Bill Race, then the agency's medical director for behavioral health, for a meeting to discuss an outside review."I will give you more background when we meet, but we will need to put together a group to review it and make sure the algorithms truly represent best practice as of 2007," he said."No pharmaceutical company funding should be a part of this."Speaking through a UT attorney, Dr. Crismon told The News that he believes CMAP was funded entirely by the state, but that he didn't have the records available to check.Staff writer Jordan contributed to this report.

Link: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-cmap_26tex.ART.State.Edition1.4a88179.html

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http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-cmap_26tex.ART.State.Edition1.4a88179.html

The Dallas Morning News

KEY FINDINGS ON PSYCHIATRIC DRUG RESEARCHSunday, October 26, 2008Documents obtained by The Dallas Morning News concerning a proposed list of psychiatric drugs that can be used by foster children show Texas researchers and mental-health officials also:• Discussed the need to defeat a bill in the Legislature that would have banned the use of psychiatric drugs in foster children younger than 5. They indicated the bill would prevent children from getting the medical treatment they need. The bill never made it past a legislative committee.• Reduced information on child suicide risks in one of their published papers, at the request of a prestigious medical journal. "Please drastically prune this section," an editor of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry wrote, in an effort to shorten the report. "Even the detailed discussion of risk factors for suicide is out of place in a paper reporting a medication algorithm."• Accepted complaints and feedback on an adult psychiatric drug list from Eli Lilly and Janssen, two pharmaceutical companies that donated grant money to the research protocols. The changes the representatives requested prompted one longtime mental health advocate to question "the influence of the pharmaceutical industry in our processes overall." A state official who responded to the advocate said they took all drug company suggestions with a grain of salt.• Considered incentives to get children enrolled in drug plan trials, including offering them gift certificates to Blockbuster and Mc's. It's unclear whether the incentives were ever offered.

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Fish oil 'calms children better than Ritalin'

by FIONA MACRAE, Daily MailLast updated at 11:17 20 June 2006

A daily dose of fish oil is better at treating hyperactivity than Ritalin - the 'chemical cosh' linked to the deaths of children, stunning research has revealed.

Just six capsules a day of the naturally-occurring oil can vastly improve children's behaviour without any of the side-effects of Ritalin and related drugs.

The controversial drugs can cause heart problems, dizziness and insomnia and have been blamed for the deaths of nine children in the UK and dozens more in the US.

A mother's story • Case study: 'How fish oil improved my hyperactive son'

The new study provides a natural alternative - and gives fresh hope to the parents of the 30,000 British children prescribed Ritalin and similar medicines such as Concerta.

Last night, experts accused doctors of being too quick to boost the coffers of large drug companies by writing out prescriptions - and urged parents to look into the value of improving their child's diet.

Psychiatrist Dr Sami Timimi (CORR) said: 'It stands to reason that using a natural supplement that has few dangers or side-effects must be preferable to using drugs which have considerable dangers associated with them.

'This is a non-toxic way of doing something that might make a difference.'

Last year, a study by Durham Local Education Authority showed that omega 3 can improve the brainpower and concentration of hyperactive children.

The latest findings, from the University of Adelaide, are the first to show that omega 3 fish oil may be better than medication at treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

The compound, which occurs naturally in oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and tuna, is responsible for a range of health benefits, from combating heart disease to boosting intelligence.

Despite this, most people eat just a fifth of the amount recommended for good health.

The Australian researchers looked at the effect of eye q (CORR) fish oil capsules on a group seven to 12-year-olds with ADHD.

Some were given the capsules, while others took a placebo or dummy capsule.

Within three months, the behaviour of those on the fish oils had dramatically improved and, by seven months, many of the children were less restless and doing better at school.

The most striking improvement was in concentration or attention, which improved by a third.

When those taking the dummy capsules switched to the fish oils, they also saw their behaviour improve.

Researcher Sinn (CORR) said: 'Many of those who had children who showed improvements commented that their children were calmer, were doing better at school and were able to concentrate longer and were therefore reading more.

'Overall, 30 to 40 per cent of children over 15 weeks and 40 to 50 per cent of children over 30 weeks had improvements.'

She added that week-on-week improvements were still being seen at the end of the study - suggesting the results of an even longer course of treatment, may be even more dramatic.

The researchers also compared their results to those from studies of Ritalin and Concerta and found fish oils are more effective, a Sydney conference on omega-3 will hear this week.

British experts said the research, which is to be published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (CORR), underlined the value of exploring alternative treatments to Ritalin.

The number of hyperactive children on medication is soaring, with a staggering 330,000 prescriptions written out each year, or 6,350 a week.

Nine British children have died after taking the drugs. Two died of heart problems, while others suffered illnesses including strokes and swelling of the brain. Dr Timimi, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at Lincolnshire NHS Trust, said: 'Drugs like Ritalin have considerable dangers associated with them, including insomnia, changes in personality and cardiotoxicity - they are bad for the heart and can cause heart attacks, strokes and sudden death.

'It must be preferable to that.'

Nick Giovannelli(CORR), of the Hyperactive Children's Support Group, urged parents to consider using natural alternatives to Ritalin.

He said: 'GPs seem to be too quick to prescribe medication.

'This new study adds to the mounting evidence that nutrition is safer and more effective than stimulant medication.'

Dr Madeleine Portwood, the educational psychologist who led the Durham trial, said: 'This study shows once again that omega 3 can have a very beneficial effect for children with concentration and behaviour problems.'

The Royal College of Psychiatrists said the findings were 'promising' and warranted further research.

Other studies have shown that omega 3 is also effective in children without ADHD or learning difficulties, boosting their grasp of the three Rs and improving their GCSE grades.

Concerta's manufacturers, Buckinghamshire-based Janssen-Cilag (CORR), said the drug is part of a package of care which should include attention to diet.

Dr Tony Donovan, the firm's associated medical director, said Concerta had a good safety record but did not suit all children.

He advised parents considering switching their child to fish oil to consult their child's specialist.

'It is not a decision to make off your own bat,' he said. 'I would advise a parent to have a discussion with their specialist about the benefits or otherwise about changing medication before making any changes.'

The makers of Ritalin, Swiss-based Novartis, said the drug had a long record of being a safe and effective medication. A spokesman advised anyone concerned about side-effects to consult their doctor.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-391503/Fish-oil-calms-children-better-Ritalin.html

>> Editors at the below 2 newspapers should receive a letter from you! > > _____ > > > Letters to the editor: <mailto:tblount@... tblount@... > > High Point Enterprise (North Carolina)> Pediatrician believes ADHD does not exist> By Jimmy Tomlin> Oct 26,2008> > HIGH POINT - If there's such a thing as an "ADHD Establishment," Dr.> Bose Ravenel stands firmly in the anti-establishment camp.> > And that badge - he refers to himself as "a rebel with a cause" - is one> the 70-year-old High Point pediatrician wears proudly.> > "I don't relish it," he says, "but it doesn't bother me because I'm> convinced about what we're doing."> > Ravenel, who has practiced in High Point since 1988, has co-authored a> new book - with noted family psychologist Rosemond - that likely> will make him a lightning rod for criticism from the aforementioned ADHD> Establishment.> > In the book, "The Diseasing of America's Children: Exposing the ADHD> Fiasco and Empowering Parents To Take Back Control" ( ,> $24.99), the authors not only hold the ADHD Establishment's feet to the> fire - they toss the establishment into the fire, using such pointed> phrases as "a travesty of science," "flimsy evidence," "a scandal> waiting to erupt," and "an effort that has resulted in the manufacture> of diseases that do not exist."> > Specifically, the authors contend that those "diseases that do not> exist" - namely, ADD (attention-deficit disorder), ADHD> (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and ODD (oppositional defiant> disorder) - are based on bad science, most likely do not derive from a> genetic brain disorder, and therefore do not require potentially harmful> medications for treatment.> > They further contend that the classic ADHD symptoms such as inattention,> forgetfulness, inability to focus, hyperactivity and impulsivity can be> addressed through a behavioral treatment model rather than resorting to> drugs.> > "We believe the professional literature is skewed in the direction of> overstating the effect of medications on these children and understating> the potential harmful effects," Ravenel explains.> > Ironically, Ravenel admits he's a former member of the ADHD> Establishment.> > "That's why I don't blame them, because I was there with them," he says.> "I never knew any different. As a busy doctor, you tend to read the> journals that are published by authors who have heavy pharmaceutical> company ties, so you're not aware of this whole alternative> perspective."> > About seven or eight years ago, though, Ravenel says he began to> question the alarming rate at which children were being diagnosed with> ADHD, particularly considering the absence of the disease in previous> generations.> > "That got me to begin looking seriously at those rare individuals who> would write articles suggesting that ADHD is not real - I looked at why> they said that," Ravenel recalls.> > His conclusion? ADHD is B-O-G-U-S.> > Ravenel and Rosemond argue in their book that in the 30-plus years since> ADHD was recognized as a behavior disorder, no objective diagnostic> criteria have been developed; no ADHD gene has been discovered; and no> ADHD biochemical imbalance has been quantified.> > "We don't believe there's any evidence to support (ADHD's existence),> and there's a compelling amount of evidence to support what we're> proposing," Ravenel says. "We think everybody ought to be trying this> alternative first."> > Ravenel's primary concern, he says, is the longterm impact of ADHD> medications such as Ritalin, Concerta and Adderall.> > "Even establishment members would agree that no one knows what the> effects of longterm exposure to these psychotropic drugs would be," he> says.> > The authors recommend a four-prong behavioral approach in lieu of> medication:> > . Reframe the child's self-image from that of a person with a disabled> brain to one with great potential. That can be done, they say, through> an old-fashioned parenting approach that combines "powerful love and> powerful discipline."> > . Eliminate or restrict the child's exposure to electronic media such as> TV, video games and computers. "Children get addicted to these> electronic stimuli," Ravenel says.> > . Change the child's diet from the typical American diet of fast food,> processed carbohydrates and sugars to more healthy foods. Also, fish oil> supplements have been shown to benefit learning and behavior, Ravenel> says.> > . De-emphasize the current educational trend that requires> kindergartners to learn what once wasn't learned until first grade,> because that trend causes more children to struggle and fail.> > This approach has made believers out of numerous parents who have> brought their children to Ravenel's practice at Cornerstone Pediatrics,> he says.> > "If you talk to parents whose children were faced with the prospect of> their child being on medication for the rest of their life, and then> within just a few weeks or months the problem is solved, they get really> passionate," Ravenel says. "And they can't believe other parents are not> being exposed to the same idea."> > Link to story:> <http://hpe.southernheadlines.com/index.cfm?section=8 & story=5371>> http://hpe.southernheadlines.com/index.cfm?section=8 & story=5371> > _____ > > > TMAP - Texas Medication Algorithm Project (algorithm = guideline) is a> scam created by various drug companies. These companies are ripping> off State Medicaid programs including Florida by promoting the most> expensive new antipsychotics, Abilify, Geodon, Risperdal, Seroquel and> Zyprexa over the older cheaper antipsychotics. A study by the federal> government's National Institute of Mental Health showed that these new> antipsychotic drugs, which cost roughly 10 times more than the older> drugs, performed no better and had just as many side effects. (CMAP is> the Child version)> > Letters to the editor here:> <http://www.dallasnews.com/cgi-bin/lettertoed.cgi>> http://www.dallasnews.com/cgi-bin/lettertoed.cgi> > The Dallas Morning News> State medication protocol researchers sought money from drug firms> Sunday, October 26, 2008> By EMILY RAMSHAW> > AUSTIN - Pharmaceutical company money, initially rejected as being> ethically questionable, was eventually sought and used by researchers> developing a list of preferred psychiatric drugs for children in state> care, according to documents reviewed by The Dallas Morning News.> > A spot on the since-suspended children's drug plan could have meant> millions to pharmaceutical firms. The documents released to The News> were collected by the Texas attorney general's office, which is suing a> pharmaceutical company accused of trying to influence researchers on a> similar adult drug plan.> > Citing the pending lawsuit over the adult plan, officials in two state> health agencies declined to comment on the Children's Medication> Algorithm Project, or CMAP - which was put on indefinite hold in May.> The researchers have insisted that pharmaceutical companies never> influenced their work.> > The CMAP records obtained by The News don't refute this. Nor were the> researchers banned from soliciting funding from drug companies.> > However, the records reflect a common pattern in state and university> medical programs. Unable to get ample government funding, researchers> are increasingly forced to rely on drug company money - even when it's> their last resort.> > When CMAP was started in the late 1990s, researchers were loath to> accept pharmaceutical grant funding. At an April 1998 meeting, "it was> concluded that we should try to avoid this if possible," according to> minutes of a meeting between CMAP researchers.> > By June 1999, researchers needed more grant money and had changed their> minds. CMAP's director, M. Lynn Crismon, head of the University of Texas> College of Pharmacy, wrote to at least 10 drug companies, asking for> donations.> > "Although we have received grant funding in support of this effort," he> wrote, "these amounts fall short of the funds required to complete this> important outcomes project."> > By late that year, CMAP budgets included pledges for $10,000 a year from> Wyeth and Pfizer, an $80,000 one-time grant from Forest Laboratories,> and $70,000 from Eli Lilly. > > While a few of the line items seem to limit the grant to CMAP's "patient> and family education" program, others are listed as unrestricted CMAP> "research gifts."> > When, in 2006, questions surfaced about drug company connections to the> adult drug plan, however, CMAP researchers were again cautious about> drug company money.> > And as recently as this spring, Dr. Crismon assured top state health> officials there was no pharmaceutical link to CMAP, saying that any drug> company money was used for a patient and family education study> unrelated to CMAP.> > "No pharma funding has ever been received for CMAP to the best of my> knowledge," he wrote. The Eli Lilly and Forest money "was not for CMAP."> > Eli Lilly officials, however, confirmed that the company donated $70,000> to the state for a CMAP education program.> > These mixed messages seem to have made their way to the top. In a 2007> e-mail, Department of State Health Services Commissioner Lakey> asked Bill Race, then the agency's medical director for behavioral> health, for a meeting to discuss an outside review.> > "I will give you more background when we meet, but we will need to put> together a group to review it and make sure the algorithms truly> represent best practice as of 2007," he said.> > "No pharmaceutical company funding should be a part of this."> > Speaking through a UT attorney, Dr. Crismon told The News that he> believes CMAP was funded entirely by the state, but that he didn't have> the records available to check.> > Staff writer Jordan contributed to this report. > > Link:> http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/> DN-cmap_26tex.ART.State.Edition1.4a88179.html> > More here: > http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/> DN-cmap_26tex.ART.State.Edition1.4a88179.html> The Dallas Morning News> KEY FINDINGS ON PSYCHIATRIC DRUG RESEARCH> Sunday, October 26, 2008> > Documents obtained by The Dallas Morning News concerning a proposed list> of psychiatric drugs that can be used by foster children show Texas> researchers and mental-health officials also:> > . Discussed the need to defeat a bill in the Legislature that would have> banned the use of psychiatric drugs in foster children younger than 5.> They indicated the bill would prevent children from getting the medical> treatment they need. The bill never made it past a legislative> committee.> > . Reduced information on child suicide risks in one of their published> papers, at the request of a prestigious medical journal. "Please> drastically prune this section," an editor of the Journal of the> American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry wrote, in an effort> to shorten the report. "Even the detailed discussion of risk factors for> suicide is out of place in a paper reporting a medication algorithm."> > . Accepted complaints and feedback on an adult psychiatric drug list> from Eli Lilly and Janssen, two pharmaceutical companies that donated> grant money to the research protocols. The changes the representatives> requested prompted one longtime mental health advocate to question "the> influence of the pharmaceutical industry in our processes overall." A> state official who responded to the advocate said they took all drug> company suggestions with a grain of salt.> > . Considered incentives to get children enrolled in drug plan trials,> including offering them gift certificates to Blockbuster and Mc's.> It's unclear whether the incentives were ever offered. > > _____ > > > Video - Too many kids on meds? > #1 <

8-1/2 minutes> <

> > #2 <

7-1/2 minutes > #3 <

6 minutes > > 27,579 Signatures Against TeenScreen. Petition:> <http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html>> http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html>