Faculty Bibliography

A consensus conference on the use of placebo in mood disorder studies consisted of expert presentations on bioethics, biostatistics, unipolar depression, and bipolar disorder. Work groups considered evidence and presented statements to the group. Although it was not possible to write a document for which there was complete agreement on all issues, the final document incorporated input from all authors. There was consensus that placebo has a definite role in mood disorder studies. Findings of equivalence between a new drug and standard treatment in active control studies is not evidence of efficacy unless the new drug is also significantly more effective than placebo. Add-on studies in which patients are randomized to standard therapy plus the investigational drug or standard therapy plus placebo are especially indicated for high-risk patients. Mood disorders in elderly and pediatric patients are understudied, and properly designed trials are urgently needed. Research is needed on the ethical conduct of studies to limit risks of medication-free intervals and facilitate poststudy treatment. Patients must fully understand the risks and lack of individualized treatment involved in research

We are carrying around, in the core recipe of humanity, clumps of genes that show that we have exactly the same arrays of genes governing key parts of our chemistry as bacteria. There is no other way to explain the jerryrigged nature of the genes that control key aspects of our development than by noting that they have been slowly assembled from instructions that were present in our jellyfish, dinosaur, woolly mammoth and primate ancestors. No one can look at how the book of life is written and not come away understanding that our core program is quite obviously the result of a series of slow changes built up over time from the programs that guided the development of earlier animals. There is no other possible explanation

The House has passed a bill that would outlaw not only human cloning, but also any attempt to make embryos using cloning techniques. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), the Senate majority leader, says he is uneasy about cloning. And President Bush has made it clear that he approves of no human cloning of any kind for any purpose

The House is not the only legislative body worrying about human cloning. More than 30 other nations, including Germany, France and Italy, have already outlawed all forms of human cloning. President Bush has made it clear that he wants to move toward outlawing all forms of human cloning as soon as he returns to Washington

The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would outlaw not only human cloning but also any attempt to make embryos using cloning techniques. Tom Daschle, majority leader of the Senate, says that he is "uneasy" about cloning. And President Bush has made it clear that he approves of no human cloning of any kind for any purpose