Invitation to Psychology

422 Chapter 12 Approaches to Treatment and Therapy

were able to get unpublished data submitted to

the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

on 12 popular antidepressants, and their results

were shocking. Of the 38 studies that reported

positive results, all but one were published. Of

the 36 studies with negative or mixed results, only

14 were published—and most of those 14 were

written to imply that the results had been better

than they were (Turner et al., 2008). Knowing the

results from unpublished studies is crucial: Only

after British drug authorities reported that 9 un-

published studies of Paxil found that it tripled the

risk of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts in

adolescents who were taking the drug, compared

to those given a placebo, did the FDA add a black-

box warning against prescribing SSRIs to anyone

younger than 18 (Healy, 2012).

Even more worrisome for the prospects of

impartial research, the majority of researchers

who are studying the effectiveness of medication

have financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry,

in the form of lucrative consulting fees, fund-

ing for their clinical

trials, stock invest-

ments, and patents.

Studies that are in-

dependently funded

often do not get the

positive results that

industry-funded drug

trials do (Angell, 2004; Healy, 2002; Krimsky,

2003). In this section, therefore, we want to give

you an idea of what you are not hearing from the

drug companies.

4

Lithium carbonate, a salt, is a special category

of drug often given to people who suffer from

bipolar disorder, although the reason it helps is

unknown. Lithium must be given in exactly the

right dose, and bloodstream levels of the drug

must be carefully monitored, because too little will

not help and too much is toxic; in some people,

lithium produces short-term side effects (tremors)

and long-term problems (kidney damage). Other

drugs commonly prescribed for people with bipo-

lar disorder include Depakote and Tegretol.

For a review of these drugs and their uses, see

Table 12.1.

Explore the Concept Drugs Commonly Used to

Treat Psychiatric Disorders at MyPsychLab

Cautions About Drug Treatments

LO 12.2

Drugs have rescued some people from emotional

despair and helped countless others live with

chronic problems such as schizophrenia, obsessive-

compulsive disorder, and panic attacks. They have

enabled people suffering from severe depression

or mental disturbances to be released from hos-

pitals, to function in the world, and to respond to

psychotherapy. Yet many psychiatrists and drug

companies are trumpeting the benefits of medica-

tion without informing the public of its limitations.

Most people are unaware of how a publication

bias—the tendency for journals to publish positive

findings but not negative or ambiguous ones—

affects what we know. Independent researchers

lithium carbonate A
drug frequently given to
people suffering from
bipolar disorder.

taBLe 12.1 Drugs Commonly Used in the treatment

of psychological Disorders

antipsychotics

(Neuroleptics) antidepressants

antianxiety Drugs

(tranquilizers)

Lithium

Carbonate

examples Thorazine

Haldol

Clozaril

Risperdal

Seroquel

Prozac (SSRI)

Nardil (MAOI)

Elavil (tricyclic)

Paxil (SSRI)

Wellbutrin (other)

Cymbalta (other)

Remeron (other)

Valium

Xanax

Klonopin

Beta blockers

primarily

used for

Schizophrenia

Other psychoses

Impulsive anger

Bipolar disorder

Depression

Severe anxiety disorders

Panic disorder

Obsessive-compulsive

disorder

Mild anxiety disorders

Panic disorder

Acute anxiety

(e.g., stage fright)

Bipolar

disorder

About Reported Drug

Benefits

Thinking

CriTiCally