Medical schools give too much control to drug firms when testing medications, critics say

The studies had all the right credentials. Their lead authors were prominent academicians. The research was conducted at respected medical schools, including two in Texas. They came to the same conclusion: New antidepressants are safe and effective for children and teen-agers.

... Montgomery said his study did not find major differences in the quality of the studies, regardless of sponsorship. However, he said there are other ways bias can creep in.

He pointed to one study comparing Risperdal and Zyprexa -- newer antipsychotic drugs. The dosage of Risperdal was so high that it virtually guaranteed significant negative side effects, Montgomery said. The maker of Zyprexa paid for the study. "That's just one example of how they kind of stack the odds," he said. ...