"Researchers Fail to Reveal Full Drug Pay"', Letter to the Editor, New York Times, June 8, 2008, by Susan Resko, The Balanced Mind Foundation Executive Director 

June 8, 2008 

Wilmette - The Balanced Mind Foundation supports full disclosure of pharmaceutical company payments to physicians and researchers. Parents and doctors need all the information to evaluate research on treatments, including potential conflicts.

Families living with pediatric bipolar disorder face challenges few others can imagine. Their children may be suicidal or explosive and unable to function in school or at home. Early treatment saves lives and improves the long-term prognosis, but diagnosis typically trails onset by a decade. We cannot allow controversy or confusion to further harm children yet undiagnosed.

Complex psychiatric condition such as pediatric bipolar disorder require more well-designed, large-scale and long-term studies. These studies should be federally financed, so researchers will be less reliant on pharmaceutical funding.

Copyright ©2008, New York Times