ALERT: Ask FDA to Stop Psychiatric Drug Ad Fraud!

NEWS ALERT - 17 November 2005
MindFreedom International
http://www.MindFreedom.org

How You May Comment to FDA
about Psychiatric Drug Ads.

FDA Web Form Makes it Easy
to Just Say 'No' to the
'Chemical Imbalance' Myth!

Do those psychiatric drug ads on USA TV,
the web and in print drive you crazy?

How about those psychiatric drug
ads that claim to help correct a
"chemical imbalance"?

It turns out there is no scientific
evidence that such a chemical
imbalance exists, let alone that
any drug helps "correct" it.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration
(FDA) recently held public hearings about
this "Direct to Consumer Advertising"
(DTCA).

You have until 28 February 2006
to submit your written comments.

A handy FDA web form lets you make
your comments in just a few moments.

Before you forget, act today and
forward this to others who might act!

* ACTION * ACTION * ACTION *

PLEASE GO TO the below FDA web site
and speak out against psychiatric drug
advertising, especially of the 'chemical
imbalance' myth!

Go to the FDA comments web form here,
click on the "Submit Comment" button
and then fill out the easy form:

*edit*

Or use this smaller url:

*edit*

Or you may mail your comments to:
*edit*

The title: "Consumer Directed Promotion of
Regulated Medical Products; Public Hearing."

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BACKGROUND ON THE CONTROVERSY

BELOW are web pages with information
about the "chemical imbalance" controversy.

~~~~~~~~~

See the 11/14/05 MindFreedom alert about an
excellent essay published by PLoS debunking
advertising claims about a chemical imbalance:

http://www.intenex.net/pipermail/mindfr ... -November/
000014.html

or use this smaller url:

http://tinyurl.com/cbzzu

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Here is an 11/8/05 MEDSCAPE news article
about the topic and the PLoS essay:

http://www.intenex.net/pipermail/mindfr ... -November/
000015.html

or use the smaller url:

http://tinyurl.com/8s5e2

~~~~~~~~~

Here is the text of the 12/05 PLoS essay
that debunks the "chemical imbalance" ads:

http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-
document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020392

or use this smaller url:

http://tinyurl.com/8vywy

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Here is a print PDF (205 K) version of the PLoS essay:

http://medicine.plosjournals.org/archiv ... /2/12/pdf/
10.1371_journal.pmed.0020392-p-L.pdf

or use this smaller url:

http://tinyurl.com/bcwf3

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For background by FDA on their request for comments:

http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/05-18040.htm

[Please note there is no "period" at end of this
URL; a previous alert added this, our apologies.]

If you have questions about the FDA process
contact Rose Cunningham at the FDA at
CUNNINGHAMR at cder.fda.gov

~~~~~~~~~

See MindFreedom's debate with Pfizer, Inc.,
manufacturer of Zoloft, about their
chemical imbalance claims:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/pfizerlies.shtml

~~~~~~~~~

Also see the historic debate with the
American Psychiatric Association resulting
from MindFreedom's 2003 hunger strike:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/ ... rike.shtml

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This news alert is forwarded as a free
public service by the nonprofit human rights
organization MindFreedom International.

* Win human rights campaigns in mental health.
* End abuse by the psychiatric drug industry.
* Support the voices of psychiatric survivors.
* Promote safe and humane options in mental health.

MindFreedom International unites 100 sponsor
and affiliate groups with individual members,
and is accredited by the United Nations as
a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with
Consultative Roster Status.

MindFreedom is one of the very few totally
independent groups in the mental health
field with no funding from governments,
drug companies, religions, corporations,
or the mental health system.

*edit*

MindFreedom International
*edit*

http://www.mindfreedom.org
email: *edit*

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Please forward this to all appropriate
places on and off the Internet, thank you!