Frederick Goodwin - Why the NY Times is Wrong

Dr Goodwin's long-standing - and highly public - track record reveals he is anything but a pusher of antidepressants. In his definitive book, "Manic-Depressive Illness," and in his talks to psychiatrists, Dr Goodwin has come through loud and clear on "the overuse of antidepressants, especially in children."

Dr Goodwin took pains to point all this out to Mr Harris, but this was left out of the story. Instead, according to Dr Goodwin, "a casual reader will be left with the impression that I was somehow involved in suppressing data on Paxil."

The charge that Dr Goodwin was somehow trying to push the diagnosis of bipolar in kids so GSK could sell more Lamictal is equally absurd: "The show in question," according to Dr Goodwin, "did discuss mood stabilizers that have been studied in kids, especially lithium and divalproex, both now generic drugs and no longer 'promoted' by anyone."

Ironically, Dr Goodwin has been a long time champion of lithium, which drug companies do not promote.

As to the charge that Dr Goodwin failed to disclose his drug industry ties to the producer of "The Infinite Mind": "There is ample evidence in the public record disclosing my work with drug companies; it's never been a secret."

According to Dr Goodwin: "I also explained that 'The Infinite Mind' producers were aware of my connections to pharmaceutical companies." In fact:

"Mr. Lichtenstein recruited another psychiatrist without any ties to industry to be the host starting in 2005, and serving through January 2008. This action was taken to deal with Mr. Lichtenstein's concern that my industry ties could become a problem for the program."

Instead, for three years, Dr Goodwin filled in as "guest host" for shows unrelated to meds treatment issues.

Dr Goodwin concludes:

"Given this fact, Mr. Harris’ report that Mr. Lichtenstein knew nothing of my activities on behalf of drug companies is clearly not accurate. It is true that Mr. Lichtenstein may not have known all the details, but he was generally aware of my activities."

So how could the NY Times be so egregiously wrong? That is the topic for another blog.

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Disclosure: Dr Goodwin authored the front cover blurb to my book, "Living Well with Depression and Bipolar Disorder" (HarperCollins, 2006).

Further disclosure: I will be asking Dr Goodwin to provide a blurb to any second edition of "Living Well."