With the focus on conflicts of interest by U.S. researchers in the spotlight in the past year (due to Sen. Grassley’s continuing investigation into researchers who failed to disclose millions of dollars in incomes from pharmaceutical companies), you’d think both pharmaceutical companies and experts who get paid by them would’ve learned a thing or two.

Apparently the news hasn’t reached Australia yet.

The Daily Telegraph reports today that seven out of 10 members of the committee setting the country’s treatment guidelines for attention deficit disorder (ADHD) have significant funding ties to the same companies who make the treatments recommended by the committee. How is this not the very definition of “conflict of interest?”

The committee’s guidelines, currently with the Federal Department of Health, have endorsed Ritalin, Strattera and other ADHD drugs as the “first-line treatment” for children.

They have warned parents to ignore alternative treatments, such as diet and exercise, citing a lack of evidence as to their benefits.

Really, now? We have over two decades worth of solid empirical research showing the efficacy of specific behavioral treatments for ADHD. So often ignored by spurious claims about their “lack of evidence.”

I find it hard to believe that in a country as large as Australia, ADHD experts can’t be found who have no financial ties to such companies. Should a conflict of interest automatically disqualify you from sitting on such a committee? Sure, why not. It’s a choice a professional can make — do research and consulting work for these companies or help make government policy. You shouldn’t be allowed (or need) to do both.

I’m hoping the abuses found in the U.S. can help make changes throughout the world to how professionals report their financial ties to pharmaceutical companies when they’re in a position to determine public policy or research.

Read the full article: ADHD experts in drug firm freebie scandal

Dr. John Grohol is the founder & CEO of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 16 Nov 2008
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