Joseph Biederman

Joseph Biederman is Chief of Clinical and Research in Pediatric Psychopharmacology at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Noteworthy work

Described as "one of the world's most influential child psychiatrists", [ [http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2007/06/17/backlash_on_bipolar_diagnoses_in_children/ Backlash on bipolar diagnoses in children - The Boston Globe ] ] Dr. Biederman has played a prominent role in field of child psychiatric medications. According to the ScienceWatch.com website, his hundred of papers on ADD/ADHD rank him as one of the most-cited researchers on the subject. In a 2005 interview, Dr. Beiderman stated "Our work is also expanding to the study of early temperamental antecedents to ADHD in young preschool offspring of parents with ADHD." [ http://www.esi-topics.com/add/interviews/JosephBiederman.html ]

Dr. Biederman has also led studies which concluded that a substantial minority of children diagnosed with ADHD actually had pediatric bipolar disorder. This controversial theory was proposed during a time when it was unheard for young children to even have bipolar disorder, which is characterized by severe mood swings. According to a report published in the "New York Times" newspaper in June 2008, between 1994 to 2003, there was a controversial 40-fold increase in the diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/us/08conflict.html?ex=1213502400&en=23737184f344c4ca&ei=5070&emc=eta1 Researchers Fail to Reveal Full Drug Pay - NYTimes.com ] ] In 2000, he pioneered and established the Stanley Foundation Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital, which is dedicated to the treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder.

Criticism

The Massachusett General Hospital website states "Dr. Biederman's work is supported by multiple federal and pharmaceutical industry grants." [ http://www.massgeneral.org/pediatricpsych/staff/biederman.html ] However, in 2008, there were media reports that Dr. Biederman failed to report to Harvard that he had received $1.6 million from drug companies between 2000 and 2007. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/us/08conflict.html?ex=1213502400&en=23737184f344c4ca&ei=5070&emc=eta1 Researchers Fail to Reveal Full Drug Pay - NYTimes.com ] ] E. Fuller Torrey, executive director of the Stanley Medical Research Institute which finances psychiatric studies, said “In the area of child psychiatry in particular, we know much less than we should, and we desperately need research that is not influenced by industry money.” [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/us/08conflict.html?ex=1213502400&en=23737184f3044c4ca&ei=5070&emc=eta1 Researchers Fail to Reveal Full Drug Pay - NYTimes.com ] ]

References

*Frontline, The Medicated Child ( [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/medicatedchild/etc/script.html transcript] )

External links

* [http://www.massgeneral.org/pediatricpsych/staff/biederman.html About Pediatric Psychopharmacology] (Mass. General Webpage, includes bio of Biederman)