APA Refutes PLoS Article on DSM-5 Conflict-of-Interest

An article in the online journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) has misrepresented facts about conflicts of interest among members of the DSM-5 Task Force and work groups, according to APA. And it has ignored the extent to which industry influence has been eliminated or greatly reduced because of strict financial disclosure requirements mandated by APA.

In a statement, APA President John Oldham, M.D., said the article “does not take into account the level to which DSM-5 Task Force and work group members have minimized or divested themselves from relationships with the pharmaceutical industry.”

The article, “A Comparison of DSM-IV and DSM-5 Panel Members’ Financial Associations With Industry: A Pernicious Problem Persists,” can be accessed here. Oldham’s response is on the APA Web site here. For information about the DSM-5 financial disclosure policy, see Psychiatric News here.

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