title: Conflict of Interest Policies and Industry Relationships of Guideline Development Group Members: A Cross-Sectional Study of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Depression.
abstract: Because of increased attention to the issue of trustworthiness of clinical practice guidelines, it may be that both transparency and management of industry associations of guideline development groups (GDGs) have improved. The purpose of the present study was to assess a) the disclosure requirements of GDGs in a cross-section of guidelines for major depression; and, b) the extent and type of conflicts of panel members. Treatment guidelines for major depression were identified and searched for conflict of interest policies and disclosure statements. Multi-modal screens for undeclared conflicts were also conducted. Fourteen guidelines with a total of 172 panel members were included in the analysis. Eleven of the 14 guidelines (78%) had a stated conflict of interest policy or disclosure statement, although the policies varied widely. Most (57%) of the guidelines were developed by panels that had members with industry financial ties to drug companies that manufacture antidepressant medication. However, only a minority of total panel members (18%) had such conflicts of interest. Drug company speakers bureau participation was the most common type of conflict. Although some progress has been made, organizations that develop guidelines should continue to work toward greater transparency and minimization of financial conflicts of interest.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Counseling and School Psychology , University of Massachusetts Boston , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cosgrove
authors.affiliation: b Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning , Tufts University , Medford , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Sheldon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krimsky
authors.affiliation: a Department of Counseling and School Psychology , University of Massachusetts Boston , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Emily E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.affiliation: a Department of Counseling and School Psychology , University of Massachusetts Boston , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Shannon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: a Department of Counseling and School Psychology , University of Massachusetts Boston , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Madeline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brodt
authors.affiliation: c Department of Family Medicine , Tufts University School of Medicine , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.|d Tufts University Family Medicine Residency at Cambridge Health Alliance , Malden , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Allen F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Shaughnessy
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D030881:Disclosure; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D057766:Policy
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: clinical practice guidelines; conflict of interest; depression; disclosure policies; public trust; research bias