Dr. Latimer's Blog
To endorse naturopathy is to reject science
Posted on Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The following column appeared in the Vancouver Sun Feb. 26.
By: Timothy Caulfield, Allan Becker, Susan Elliott, Susan Waserman and Judah Denburg
Do vaccines cause autism? Is there enough evidence to justify the public funding of chiropractics? Do homeopathic remedies work? These are questions that trigger tough health policy questions and, more broadly, touch on the very nature of evidence and knowledge. And they are all issues that have, over the past few weeks, been topics of public debate and substantial media coverage.
In Alberta, there has been much public disquiet about the delisting of chiropractics. In the United States, a recent court decision, examining years of scientific evidence, rejected the idea that there is any connection between the measles, mumps, & rubella (MMR) vaccine and childhood autism. And, in British Columbia, a debate is brewing around the idea of expanding the scope of practice of naturopaths to allow the prescription of drugs and the diagnosis and treatment of allergies, including potentially life-threatening food allergies.
From a health policy perspective, this latter issue is of particular interest, especially since the prevalence of food allergies has doubled in the past 10 years. The naturopath issue is not, as it has often been framed, just a "turf" war among professions. It is not, for example, one set of health care professionals (medical doctors) trying to exclude another group from helping patients. It is also not solely about choice (if it were, why not open up the health system to every type of practitioner?)
A much bigger issue is at play: What type of evidence are we as individuals, and as a society, going to consider in making health policy decisions? Do we want a system based on scientific principles that can be counted on to be reproducible and predictable, or one based on anecdote and belief (in this case, the belief being, as The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians states, the "dependable orderliness" of nature that is "guided by a kind of inner wisdom that everyone has")?
To be clear, we are not claiming that all naturopathy is bunk. As research progresses, some naturopathic remedies may be found, through scientific methods, to be effective and safe. Also, naturopathy seems to be inching toward a more evidence-based approach, as illustrated by the inclusion of traditional science courses in the curriculum of accredited naturopathic schools.
But, on the whole, naturopathy still resides on the fringes of conventional scientific inquiry. In fact, it is often held up as the archetypical anti-science practice -- giving primacy to a philosophical ethos over what available evidence reveals about effectiveness. It is a field that has embraced practices that remain, to put it mildly, scientifically questionable -- such as homeopathy, chelation and colonic irrigation. And many of these practices contradict what the available evidence tells us should be done. Remarkably, a survey of American naturopaths found that only 20 per cent would recommend to parents that they vaccinate their children.
By highlighting the ambiguous scientific foundations of naturopathy we do not mean to imply that conventional health care is perfect. The practice of medicine must improve. Some therapies used by doctors are yet unproven or understudied. And the busy, business-like approach of too many doctors has caused patients to seek more holistic and attentive practitioners -- such as naturopaths. But this is no reason to discard or question the tremendous advances that modern medicine has brought us to enrich and improve the quality of our lives.
And the use of unproven therapies by one group of health care providers is not a justification for supporting the use of unproven therapies by another group. All health care decisions should be informed by the best available evidence. This seems particularly so when we are seeking to make our health care system ever more efficient, safe and cost-effective. The medical profession has also been pushing toward a more evidence-based approach. There are continuing efforts to figure out what works, what works best and what doesn't work. The practice of medicine is based on science, not on a particular immutable faith or worldview. Yes, there are issues with the practice of medicine, but since it is based on science it is capable of changing, evolving and defining best practice for all of our benefit.
If naturopathy were held to the same generalizable scientific principles would naturopathic schools be teaching homeopathy and naturopathic manipulation? No. Of course, Canadians have a right to choose alternative approaches to their health; for some, the use of naturopathic therapies fits with a personal philosophy. But leaving room in society for a plurality of health philosophies is different from officially endorsing and legitimizing a practice via government action.
Here, we don't need to engage the age-old debate about the value of science as compared to other forms of knowledge ("traditional" or otherwise.) We simply need to ask if the B.C. government has made an explicit decision to drift further from the use of scientific principles in its assessment of health care. If so, it should be explicitly explained to the public how and why this is being done. We should also consider the specific, practical, issues associated with the proposed expansion of scope in practice.
Will children with life-threatening food allergies be poorly managed? How many who do not really have food allergies will be misdiagnosed? What public anxiety and burden on the health system will eventuate? Will this add health care costs -- for the extra, perhaps unproven, naturopathic care and for additional care by physicians who may be needed to resolve urgent problems or confusion?
Will naturopathic advice result in falling vaccination rates and the real threat of increased rates of infectious disease, as happened in the United Kingdom when the autism question was widely embraced? Has the B.C. government considered these issues and, if so, what evidence was used? Finally, it is a great paradox that at a time of fiscal restraint, when we are spending billions of dollars on science to define the best evidence-based health care, the government is preparing to endorse a largely unproven and untested alternative approach. Is the potential impact on our children worth this public experiment? Is this really the direction the Victoria wants to go?
Timothy Caulfield is Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta; Allan Becker is a professor in the department of pediatrics, University of Manitoba; Judah Denburg is professor of medicine, McMaster University; Susan Elliott is professor of geography at McMaster University; Susan Waserman is professor of medicine at McMaster University. All are members of AllerGen NCE, one of Canada's Networks of Centres of Excellence, which supports research aimed at reducing the morbidity, mortality and socio-economic burden of allergic and related immune diseases.
Views of mental illness form of discrimination
Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008
The following article appeared in the Vancouver Province Monday August 18 and shows the extent to which stigma is still very present in our country.
Nearly one in two Canadians believes mental illness isn't always "real" but a cop-out for bad behaviour and personal weakness, a new national survey shows. And attitudes toward people with addictions border almost on religious judgment, the study found.
One in four Canadians is afraid to be around someone with a serious mental illness, and about half of the 2,024 people surveyed online said they would avoid socializing with, or marrying someone with a mental illness. The Ipsos-Reid survey, commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association, "shines a harsh, and frankly unflattering light on the attitudes we Canadians have concerning mental health," CMA president Dr. Brian Day said in a release. "In some ways, mental illness is the final frontier of socially-acceptable discrimination."
The irony is that 15 per cent of adults polled reported having been diagnosed by a doctor as being clinically depressed; another 23 per cent reported feelings of worthlessness and helplessness. Meanwhile, the number of prescriptions dispensed for antidepressants in the country is approaching one prescription per Canadian per year. "If somebody said to you they had a pain in their stomach, you wouldn't assume it was fake; you would assume they had a problem and had to get it looked at," says Canada's mental health commissioner, Michael Kirby.
"People aren't willing to recognize that mental illness is a genuine illness."
Fewer than half of Canadians think alcohol and drug addiction is a mental illness and only one in five would socialize with someone struggling with substance abuse, according to the survey.
The attitudes reflect "an almost religious judgment of people involved with alcohol or drugs as sinners," says Dr. David Goldbloom, vice-chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Ongoing studies at OCT
Depression
We have ongoing studies examining investigational treatments for depression. If you are an adult and you think you may be depressed, contact our office for more information or to learn if you are eligible to participate.
Fibromyalgia
If you are an adult and have experienced the widespread chronic pain of fibromyalgia for at least the past three months, you might be eligible to participate in an ongoing study of an investigational treatment for this condition.
Diabetes
We have ongoing studies examining investigational treatments in type II diabetes. If you are an adult aged 18 or older with poorly controlled type II diabetes you may be eligible. We are seeking individuals who are either taking no medication for their diabetes or are receiving insulin with or without other medications. Contact us for more information.
Celiac Disease
Our study of an investigational treatment for Celiac Disease is ongoing. Currently, the only available treatment is strict adherence to a gluten free diet. If you are an adult between the ages of 18 and 72, have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and have been gluten free for 6 months or more, you might be eligible to participate.
Insomnia
If you have experienced insomnia for 3 months or more, you might be qualified to participate in an ongoing study with this condition. We are seeking adults aged 18-64 with insomnia that is not caused by another disorder or medication. Volunteers should have a fairly regular bedtime and morning routine and get up feeling un-refreshed at least 3 days a week.
Female Urinary Incontinence
We have an ongoing study in urge incontinence due to overactive bladder. If you are a woman aged 18-70 who experiences this condition, you may be eligible. Contact us for more information.
Keep checking our current studies page for more information about ongoing studies – or contact us directly.
Heavy pot use shrinks some brain regions
Posted on Monday, August 18, 2008
A study using high resolution MRI imaging found certain regions of the brain appear to be significantly smaller than average among heavy marijuana users.
Effects of regular pot use have been widely controversial and this brain scan study examined the hippocampus and amygdala in men who were heavy long-term users and found them significantly smaller than those regions among volunteers without a history of marijuana use.
In addition to reduced size in the hippocampus and amygdala, heavy pot users reported more mental health symptoms and scored lower on auditory verbal learning tests than controls.
This study examined 15 drug users with an average intake of at least five joints every day for 20 years or more. Subjects were screened to ensure no mental illness or abuse of other drugs in order to ensure effects were due to marijuana use and not other causes. These men were compared against 16 control volunteers.
Although limited by small sample size, the results suggest heavy daily use of marijuana might be toxic to human brain tissue. More research is needed to get a clearer picture of the long term effects of marijuana use.
Ongoing studies at OCT
Depression
We have ongoing studies examining investigational treatments for depression. If you are an adult and you think you may be depressed, contact our office for more information or to learn if you are eligible to participate.
Fibromyalgia
If you are an adult and have experienced the widespread chronic pain of fibromyalgia for at least the past three months, you might be eligible to participate in an ongoing study of an investigational treatment for this condition.
Diabetes
We have ongoing studies examining investigational treatments in type II diabetes. If you are an adult aged 18 or older with poorly controlled type II diabetes you may be eligible. We are seeking individuals who are either taking no medication for their diabetes or are receiving insulin with or without other medications. Contact us for more information.
Celiac Disease
Our study of an investigational treatment for Celiac Disease is ongoing. Currently, the only available treatment is strict adherence to a gluten free diet. If you are an adult between the ages of 18 and 72, have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and have been gluten free for 6 months or more, you might be eligible to participate.
Insomnia
If you have experienced insomnia for 3 months or more, you might be qualified to participate in an ongoing study with this condition. We are seeking adults aged 18-64 with insomnia that is not caused by another disorder or medication. Volunteers should have a fairly regular bedtime and morning routine and get up feeling un-refreshed at least 3 days a week.
Female Urinary Incontinence
We have an ongoing study in urge incontinence due to overactive bladder. If you are a woman aged 18-70 who experiences this condition, you may be eligible. Contact us for more information.
Keep checking our current studies page for more information about ongoing studies – or contact us directly.
Celiac disease: An elusive 'iceberg'
Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008
The following article was published in the Globe and Mail on July 9
Celiac disease: an elusive 'iceberg'
Fatigue, weakness, joint pain and migraines are frequently overlooked as symptoms of the disorder
By LESLIE BECK, a Toronto-based dietitian at the Medcan Clinic, is on CTV's Canada AM every Wednesday.
Although as many as 300,000 Canadians suffer from celiac disease, many of them don't know it.
Celiac disease, a lifelong, genetically based disorder, occurs when gluten - a protein found in wheat, rye and barley - triggers an abnormal immune response that damages the lining of the small intestine interfering with the absorption of nutrients. Often the condition goes undiagnosed.
Experts commonly refer to it as an "iceberg" disease. Visible at the tip are individuals whose symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss and, in children, delayed growth. The rest of the iceberg consists of those with more subtle symptoms, such as bloating or excess gas. Although these may go unrecognized as signs of celiac disease, the damage continues.
While most people think celiac disease afflicts mainly children, it can occur at any age. In fact, two-thirds of those diagnosed are adults. Later in life, the disease can be triggered by pregnancy, surgery, gastrointestinal infection or severe emotional stress.
According to a 2007 survey of the Canadian Celiac Association's more than 5,000 members, the average time it took to get diagnosed was 12 years. Many respondents had consulted three or more doctors before getting their diagnosis.
While stomach pain, abdominal distention and diarrhea are considered the classic symptoms of celiac disease, in adults they're often not present. Constipation and bloating may be the only outward signs. Symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, joint pain and migraines - ones typically not recognized as gut-related - are commonly reported, and the diagnosis is often anemia, stress, irritable bowel syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome.
If left untreated, celiac disease increases the risk of osteoporosis (because of poor absorption of calcium and vitamin D), infertility, certain digestive tract cancers and other autoimmune disorders such as Type 1 diabetes and thyroid disease.
Screening tests that measure the level of antibodies in the blood are available. (People with celiac disease have higher than normal levels of antibodies to gluten.)
Health Canada recently approved the Biocard Celiac Test Kit, an at-home test that measures gluten antibodies from a fingertip blood sample. The Biocard is currently available in British Columbia and is expected to be available for $50 in pharmacies across the country by the end of this year.
A blood test, however, is only the first step in diagnosing celiac disease; it's used to detect people who are likely to have the condition. Confirming a diagnosis requires a small bowel biopsy in which an endoscope is passed through the mouth into the stomach and upper intestine so that the lining can be examined and a biopsy taken.
The only treatment for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet for life. That means eliminating all foods and food ingredients made from wheat, rye and barley. Included in the wheat family are spelt, kamut, semolina, durum, einkorn and faro. The main sources of gluten are breads, cereals, crackers and pastas, but it's also found in luncheon meats, yogurt, seasonings, salad dressings, sauces, marinades, soy sauce, soups and beer.
Even if you think you are following a gluten-free diet, you may be unknowingly consuming gluten as a hidden ingredient in food products, medications or vitamin supplements. Ingredients to question or avoid include graham flour, malt, dextrin, modified food starch, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, MSG, emulsifiers, stabilizers, caramel colour and natural flavour.
Oats, previously on the list of gluten-containing foods to avoid, have now been given the green light for people with celiac disease. The Canadian Celiac Association maintains that eating pure, uncontaminated oats - up to ¾ cup dry oats a day for adults and ¼ cup for children - is safe.
The problem is that oats may become contaminated with other gluten-containing grains during processing. Pure, uncontaminated oats are trademarked "Pavena" to ensure accurate identification. Still, a small number of people may not be able to tolerate oats and should follow up with their doctor when adding them to a gluten-free diet. (People with untreated celiac disease may also have difficulty digesting lactose in milk products. That problem usually disappears when gluten is removed from the diet, allowing the gut to heal.)
Today, it's getting easier to follow a gluten-free diet with the influx of products in supermarkets and natural food stores. Manufacturers of gluten-free products include El Peto, Glutino, Kinnikinnick, Enjoy Life, Kaybee, Rizopia and Tinkyada. And it's important to consult with a registered dietitian who can advise you on gluten-free alternatives and the need for vitamin and mineral supplements.
If you suspect you have celiac disease, don't put yourself on a gluten-free diet until you are properly diagnosed. If you do have the disease, the Canadian Celiac Association (celiac.ca) can provide more information and support.
Ongoing studies at OCT
Celiac Disease
Our study of an investigational treatment for Celiac Disease is ongoing. Currently, the only available treatment is strict adherence to a gluten free diet. If you are an adult between the ages of 18 and 72, have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and have been gluten free for 6 months or more, you might be eligible to participate.
Depression
We have ongoing studies examining investigational treatments for depression. If you are an adult and you think you may be depressed, contact our office for more information or to learn if you are eligible to participate.
Fibromyalgia
If you are an adult and have experienced the widespread chronic pain of fibromyalgia for at least the past three months, you might be eligible to participate in an ongoing study of an investigational treatment for this condition.
Diabetes
We have ongoing studies examining investigational treatments in type II diabetes. If you are an adult aged 18 or older with poorly controlled type II diabetes you may be eligible. We are seeking individuals who are either taking no medication for their diabetes or are receiving insulin with or without other medications. Contact us for more information.
Insomnia
If you have experienced insomnia for 3 months or more, you might be qualified to participate in an ongoing study with this condition. We are seeking adults aged 18-64 with insomnia that is not caused by another disorder or medication. Volunteers should have a fairly regular bedtime and morning routine and get up feeling un-refreshed at least 3 days a week.
Female Urinary Incontinence
We have an ongoing study in urge incontinence due to overactive bladder. If you are a women aged 18-70 who experiences this condition, you may be eligible. Contact us for more information.
Keep checking our current studies page for more information about ongoing studies – or contact us directly.
Drugs that grow your brain
Posted on Monday, June 9, 2008
The following article was found at technologyreview.com on June 2.
We are currently conducting a trial with the compound described below.
Compounds that trigger the growth of new brain cells might help treat depression
Drugs that encourage the growth of new neurons in the brain are now headed for clinical trials. The drugs, which have already shown success in alleviating symptoms of depression and boosting memory in animal models, are being developed by Brain Cells, a San Diego-based start-up that screens drugs for their brain-growing power. The company hopes the compounds will provide an alternative to existing antidepressants and says they may also prove effective in treating cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer's.
"The fact that you might be able to take small molecules to stimulate specific cells to regenerate in the brain is paradigm-shifting," says Christopher Eckman, a neuroscientist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. "[This approach] takes advantage of the body's innate ability to correct itself when given appropriate cues." Eckman studies compounds that boost brain cell growth in models of neurodegenerative disease and is not involved with BrainCells.
In the last ten years, scientists have discovered that new neurons are born in the adult brain and that increases or decreases in this cell growth, known as neurogenesis, may be involved in myriad brain diseases, including depression, schizophrenia and stroke. Subsequent research has shown that existing drugs, including Prozac and other antidepressants, boost neurogenesis. In fact, that property may be an integral component of the drugs' effectiveness--for example; some experiments suggest that new cell growth in the hippocampus is necessary for antidepressants to work.
Scientists at BrainCells aim to exploit that finding by screening drugs expressly for their ability to boost brain cell growth. (While some existing drugs have this effect, they weren't selected for it.) Scientists select drug candidates by assessing their impact on human neural stem cells growing in a dish, examining how many new cells are born and how well they develop into fully differentiated neurons. The company is focusing mainly on drugs that are already on the market or have been tested in humans for other indications and therefore have a good safety profile.
After screening different types of antidepressant compounds that are already on the market, researchers at BrainCells found all the drugs have a similar ability to boost brain cell growth. However, existing antidepressants fail to help 30 to 50 percent of patients and often carry problematic side-effects. So the scientists began searching for other compounds that carry similar benefits but lack the side effects. "It's possibly that some people who don't respond to SSRIs [a common type of antidepressant] would respond to a drug that targets neurogenesis directly," says James Schoeneck, Braincells's chief executive officer.
Clinical trials of the company's lead candidate, known as BCI-540, began earlier this year. The drug, originally developed for Alzheimer's disease, boosts brain cell growth by 20 percent. These results are comparable to Prozac. "Because the drug had already been tested in 700 patients, we knew its safety profile," says Schoeneck. (Clinical trials for Alzheimer's were halted because of a high rate of placebo response.) Schoeneck says the drug has so far shown no signs of gastrointestinal or sexual side effects, two of the most problematic side effects of current antidepressants.
The company also plans to test the drug, which shows anti-anxiety effects in rodents, for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), an anxiety disorder common in combat veterans and assault victims. But the role of neurogenesis in mood disorders is still controversial. "Not everyone is convinced that neurogenesis is integrally related to the cause of depression," says Arnold Kriegstein, director of the Institute for Regeneration Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
Drugs that boost brain cell growth may also aid cognition. Previous research has shown that neurogenesis in the hippocampus, a brain area integral to learning and memory, is important for maintaining plasticity in that part of the brain, which in turn is linked to memory function. "With aging, there's a decrease in neurogenesis," says Kriegstein. "The hypothesis is that if you could boost neurogenesis to compensate for that age-related decline, you might maintain functional levels."
BrainCells is also testing a compound, known as BCI-632, for its cognitive enhancing properties. "It's the most neurogenic compound we've seen," says Schoeneck. While the compound hasn't yet been tested in humans, it appears to boost at least one type of memory in rodents. The company aims to begin clinical trials next year.
Novel drug combinations may also have neurogenesis-boosting power. For example, researchers at Brain cells have found that a respiratory drug and a cardiovascular drug, both already on the market, seem to dramatically boost brain cell growth in cellular tests.
Ongoing studies at OCT
Depression
We have ongoing studies examining investigational treatments for depression. If you are an adult and you think you may be depressed, contact our office for more information or to learn if you are eligible to participate.
Celiac Disease
Our study of an investigational treatment for Celiac Disease is ongoing. Currently, the only available treatment is strict adherence to a gluten free diet. If you are an adult between the ages of 18 and 72, have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and have been gluten free for 6 months or more, you might be eligible to participate.
Fibromyalgia
If you are an adult and have experienced the widespread chronic pain of fibromyalgia for at least the past three months, you might be eligible to participate in an ongoing study of an investigational treatment for this condition.
Diabetes
We have ongoing studies examining investigational treatments in type II diabetes. If you are an adult aged 18-77 with poorly controlled type II diabetes you may be eligible. We are seeking individuals who are either taking no medication for their diabetes or are receiving insulin with or without other medications. Contact us for more information.
Insomnia
If you have experienced insomnia for 3 months or more, you might be qualified to participate in an ongoing study with this condition. We are seeking adults aged 18-64 with insomnia that is not caused by another disorder or medication. Volunteers should have a fairly regular bedtime and morning routine and get up feeling un-refreshed at least 3 days a week.
Female Urinary Incontinence
We have an ongoing study in urge incontinence due to overactive bladder. If you are a women aged 18-70 who experiences this condition, you may be eligible. Contact us for more information.
Keep checking our current studies page for more information about ongoing studies – or contact us directly.
Are antidepressants effective?
Posted on Monday, April 14, 2008
Recently there has been a lot of media coverage of a paper by psychologist Irving Kirsch claiming antidepressants are not as effective as we thought.
Much of the news coverage reports antidepressants are no more effective than placebo and then adds as a much less prominent side bar that this is true in cases of mild to moderate depression.
Another popular angle claims pharmaceutical companies only publish positive studies while suppressing negative results and giving false optimism about these and other drugs on the market.
I find this story interesting for several reasons. First, the reason behind the media frenzy - there is a segment of the population that rejoices when news reports even hint toward undermining the ‘evil empire’ of the pharmaceutical industry. Another segment seems to have the same reaction when anything negative is reported about psychiatry.
Here we have a story that on its face appears to undermine both drug companies and psychiatry – and it has unleashed a flurry of media hype.
In reality, there was nothing particularly new published in this paper. We have long known about the placebo effect and I have written about it several times in this column. This is when a person taking an inactive medication or sugar pill experiences improvement in symptoms.
We have also long know that psychiatric studies in general and depression studies in particular are very susceptible to this effect – and this is one of the primary stumbling blocks faced by those conducting clinical trials for the treatment of depression.
As a psychiatrist who is heavily involved in clinical trials, I can tell you placebo response is discussed in detail at investigator meetings for every depression study. If the rate of placebo response in a particular study is high, it is very difficult to show a statistically significant effect of the drug being studied with the number of patients typically involved.
In any study the goal is to keep the placebo rate as low as possible by trying to eliminate as many factors as possible known to increase placebo response. A few such factors can include therapeutic time spent with the depressed person, other procedures or treatments directed at the depression, encouragement and empathy, and hyping the possible benefit of the medication.
A fine balance needs to be struck between ensuring the study volunteer feels cared for and creating an excessive placebo response which could mask benefits from medication.
When a new medication is compared with a proven one and a placebo – a common model in clinical research – if there is no difference between any of the three and a high placebo rate, this is a failed trial. In a case like this, the results may not be published because there would be a known problem making the study unhelpful.
Many studies (which are also included in Dr. Hirsch’s analysis) are not meant to show an advantage of medication over placebo. Early studies with smaller numbers exist to find the best dose of medication, learn about side effects and prepare the way for later, larger scale studies. These support a new drug application, but are not necessarily for publication.
Even Dr. Hirsch did not say antidepressants are not effective. He said their effects in mild to moderate depression may not be as great as some people think based on the published studies. Again, this is not news.
Today, most clinical trials for depression are focusing on moderate to severe depression in order to minimize the effects of placebo response.
In cases of mild depression, clinicians and treatment guidelines know that antidepressants are only one of several treatment options.
Placebo response is not unique to psychiatric disorders or treatments and can be substantial in disorders of all kinds. It does not replace effective treatment in the long run unless the symptoms were time limited or transient in nature. Someone with a severe depression may have a temporary elevation of mood in response to hope generating influences such as the promise of new, effective treatments – but if these turn out to be placebos, the positive effects will eventually subside.
Only a few short months ago we had a publicity frenzy over antidepressant medications allegedly causing people to become suicidal and now we are asked to believe they are no more powerful than placebos. We can’t have it both ways.
Antidepressants are effective medications that need to be used wisely under the supervision of experienced professionals in the context of an assessment and diagnosis. Other treatments are often also necessary.
Ongoing studies at OCT
Depression We have ongoing studies examining investigational treatments for depression. If you are an adult and you think you may be depressed, contact our office for more information or to learn if you are eligible to participate. Celiac Disease Our study of an investigational treatment for Celiac Disease has now started. Currently, the only available treatment is strict adherence to a gluten free diet. If you are an adult between the ages of 18 and 72, have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and have been gluten free for 6 months or more, you might be eligible to participate. Fibromyalgia If you are an adult and have experienced the widespread chronic pain of fibromyalgia for at least the past three months, you might be eligible to participate in an ongoing study of an investigational treatment for this condition. Diabetes We have a study examining investigational treatment in type II diabetes. If you are an adult aged 18-77 with poorly controlled type II diabetes you may be eligible. This study is seeking individuals who are not currently taking any medication for their diabetes. Contact us for more information. Insomnia If you have experienced insomnia for 3 months or more, you might be qualified to participate in an ongoing study with this condition. We are seeking adults aged 18-64 with insomnia that is not caused by another disorder or medication. Volunteers should have a fairly regular bedtime and morning routine and get up feeling un-refreshed at least 3 days a week. Keep checking our current studies page for more information about ongoing studies – or contact us directly. A couple of months ago Dr. Latimer’s regular column discussed the case of Robert Latimer (no relation) who was initially denied parole after serving 10 years of his life sentence for the second degree “compassionate homicide” of his 12 year old daughter. A positive update on this case occurred last week when Mr. Latimer won his appeal and was granted immediate parole to be served in Ottawa where he plans to work in advocacy to change laws surrounding euthanasia and mercy killing. The original column on this subject is below: Insight By Dr. Paul Latimer Robert Latimer was denied day parole last week after spending the past seven years in a minimum security prison. Panel members at his parole hearing stated he has “not developed the kind of sufficient insight and understanding” of his actions to warrant receiving parole at this time. Mr. Latimer (no relation to myself) is the Saskatchewan farmer who killed his severely disabled daughter in 1993 and sparked a national debate on euthanasia. He was convicted of second degree murder in the death of his daughter and has always acknowledged his action, which he claimed was a mercy killing he would do again if presented with the same situation. Because Mr. Latimer did not express remorse for his action, the parole board declared he lacked insight. This is a misinterpretation of the definition of insight. Insight means to have understanding of the relationship between current thoughts, feelings and/or behaviours and where these originated or how they are maintained. Mr. Latimer has insight but doesn’t agree with the opinion of the majority. He has been in prison for the past seven years because Canadian law does not permit euthanasia – but this issue is controversial. Many reasonable people around the world believe it should be legal and it is legal in some places. Physician assisted dying is legal in Oregon under the death with dignity act as well as in the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. Even our neighbour to the south – Washington State – is currently engaged in an active debate about legalizing assisted suicide. A popular two term governor with Parkinson’s Disease is leading the advocacy debate in what he says will be his “last campaign”. Although Mr. Latimer has different values than the majority in Canadian society and has been punished under the law because of them – he has not changed his opinion. We may agree or disagree with his position, but it is not appropriate to say that anyone who disagrees with us suffers from a lack of insight. It is possible to understand alternative positions and still disagree. The recent parole hearing of Mr. Latimer is an example of patronizing, pseudo-psychologizing to justify an action and the panel of political appointees should be required to give a more cogent rationale for their decision. Mr. Latimer understands what he did and why he is in jail, but doesn’t agree. Is it appropriate in a case like this to demand remorse as a condition of parole? If that is the requirement, then Mr. Latimer will never qualify for parole because he will never feel remorseful. What does society gain by keeping him in prison? To date, he has already served as an example to others – anyone considering the mercy killing of a family member now knows they will likely go to jail. In terms of protecting the public – it is unlikely Mr. Latimer will ever face a similar situation again. If by some chance he was in a position to take similar action in the future, it would likely be easy for parole officers to see it coming and intervene if they thought a repeat offence was likely. What more does society gain by keeping him in jail? It is an expensive way to silence a dissident point of view - Mr. Latimer has stated his intention of moving to Ottawa to advocate for his position. I say, give him parole and allow the democratic process to deal with his advocacy for euthanasia. Ongoing studies at OCT Depression We have ongoing studies examining investigational treatments for depression. If you are an adult and you think you may be depressed, contact our office for more information or to learn if you are eligible to participate. Celiac Disease Our study of an investigational treatment for Celiac Disease has now started. Currently, the only available treatment is strict adherence to a gluten free diet. If you are an adult between the ages of 18 and 72, have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and have been gluten free for 6 months or more, you might be eligible to participate. Fibromyalgia If you are an adult and have experienced the widespread chronic pain of fibromyalgia for at least the past three months, you might be eligible to participate in an ongoing study of an investigational treatment for this condition. Diabetes We have two studies examining investigational treatments in type II diabetes. If you are an adult aged 18-77 with poorly controlled type II diabetes you may be eligible. One study is seeking individuals who are not currently taking any medication for their diabetes and the second is seeking people who are taking at least 1500mg/day of Metformin therapy. Contact us for more information. Insomnia If you have experienced insomnia for 3 months or more, you might be qualified to participate in an ongoing study with this condition. We are seeking adults aged 18-64 with insomnia that is not caused by another disorder or medication. Volunteers should have a fairly regular bedtime and morning routine and get up feeling un-refreshed at least 3 days a week. Keep checking our current studies page for more information about ongoing studies – or contact us directly.
According to a recent World Health Organization report, almost 3,000 people commit suicide around the world each day which corresponds to approximately one suicide every 30 seconds. Further, for every one person who commits suicide, there are at least 20 more who try to kill themselves. Also in the report, the global suicide rate has risen 60 percent in the past 50 years and suicide is one of the top three causes of death among people aged 15 to 34 – although most suicide victims are over the age of 60. Untreated or improperly managed mental illness is responsible for the vast majority of suicides and many tragic deaths could be prevented with psychiatric care. Two recent studies published in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggest treatment of depression either with therapy or drugs reduces the risk of suicide in all age groups and especially during the first months of treatment. Both studies showed a decrease in suicide attempts after beginning treatment – regardless of the individual’s age. Treatment does save lives when it is used. Unfortunately, the ongoing stigma surrounding mental illness prevents many people from seeking help and also often stops family members of suicide victims from speaking out about their loved one’s death. When suicide remains an unaddressed taboo subject, it can become a cycle. People who lose a loved one to suicide are at five times the risk of committing suicide themselves. Bringing suicide out of the shadows and talking about it openly will increase awareness and support from the community, which in turn could save lives. I urge you to speak to your doctor if you or your loved one are experiencing depression or thinking about suicide. Help is available. Ongoing studies at OCT Depression We currently have an ongoing study examining investigational treatments for depression. If you are an adult and you think you may be depressed, contact our office for more information or to learn if you are eligible to participate. Celiac Disease We are about to start a new study examining an investigational treatment for Celiac Disease. Currently, the only available treatment is strict adherence to a gluten free diet. If you are an adult between the ages of 18 and 68, have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and have been gluten free for 6 months or more, you might be eligible to participate. Pain We have a number of ongoing studies involving chronic pain conditions. If you are an adult experiencing post herpetic neuralgia or fibromyalgia, contact our office for more information. Diabetes We have two studies examining investigational treatments in type II diabetes. If you are an adult aged 18-77 with poorly controlled type II diabetes you may be eligible. One study is seeking individuals who are not currently taking any medication for their diabetes and the second is seeking people who are taking at least 1500mg/day of Metformin therapy. Contact us for more information. Insomnia If you have experienced insomnia for 3 months or more, you might be qualified to participate in a new study with this condition. We are seeking adults aged 18-64 with insomnia that is not caused by another disorder or medication. Volunteers should have a fairly regular bedtime and morning routine and get up feeling un-refreshed at least 3 days a week. Keep checking our current studies page for more information about ongoing studies – or contact us directly.
Web MD reported the following story: "Depression has a greater impact on overall health than arthritis, diabetes, angina, and asthma, but it all too often goes unrecognized and untreated," according to research appearing in the September 8 issue of the Lancet. Somnath Chatterji, M.D., of the World Health Organization (WHO), and colleagues, "found depression to be a greater predictor of poor health in patients with these chronic conditions than having one or more chronic medical conditions without depression." The researchers based their work "on interviews with almost 250,000 people living in 60 countries." According to BBC News the WHO researchers asked people "taking part in the World Health Survey a variety of questions about their health, such as how they sleep, how much pain they have, and whether they have any problems with memory or concentration." Participants were "also asked about how they manage with day-to-day tasks." BBC News continues, "After taking into account factors such as poverty and other health conditions, the researchers found that depression had the largest effect on worsening health." And, "people with depression who also had one or more chronic diseases had the worst health scores of all the diseases looked at or combinations of diseases." Britain's Guardian Unlimited notes, "Depression was the fourth leading cause of 'disease burden' in 2000, a measure of the number of years of full health lost due to an illness." However, "projections by scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health suggest that, by 2020, depression will rise to become second only to heart disease in terms of disease burden." The AFP adds that depression accounts for "almost 12 percent of total years lived with disability worldwide." Therefore, the WHO researchers "called on doctors around the world to be more alert in the diagnosis and treatment of the condition, noting that it is fairly easy to recognize and treat." According to their study, "even if the prevalence of depression is similar to the four other chronic physical diseases, the lifetime risk -- the number of people who cycle in and out of depression -- is five to 10 times greater." Britain's Daily Mail quotes Dr. Chatterji as saying, "This study reinforces the importance of recognizing and treating depression as part of chronic illness because it's a much more effective way to improve people's health than just dealing with chronic physical illness." Dr. Chatterji added, "Treatment of mental illness is a necessity, not a luxury." Ongoing studies at OCT Schizophrenia Okanagan Clinical Trials is currently seeking participants in a study examining an investigational treatment in schizophrenia. If you or a loved one are an adult aged 18-65 with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and are overweight or concerned about your weight. Contact our office for more information. Depression We currently have an ongoing study examining investigational treatments for depression. If you are an adult and you think you may be depressed, contact our office for more information or to learn if you are eligible to participate in one of these studies. Pain If you are an adult experiencing, postherpetic neuralgia you may be eligible to participate in a new study for this painful condition. Diabetes We have two studies examining investigational treatments in type II diabetes. If you are an adult aged 18-77 with poorly controlled type II diabetes you may be eligible. One study is seeking individuals who are not currently taking any medication for their diabetes and the second is seeking people who are taking at least 1500mg/day of Metformin therapy. Contact us for more information. Celiac Disease If you are between 18-68, diagnosed with Celiac disease and have been on a gluten free diet for 6 months you may be eligible for this study of a new investigational product that will allow the consumption of gluten. There is no current treatment for Celiac disease other than the gluten free diet. Keep checking our current studies page for more information about ongoing studies – or contact us directly. The following story appeared in the Vancouver Province June 14. Page: A40 By: Don Harrison The public Heather Devine can be smiling on the outside while the private person sheds tears of pain. "I don't want to look tired and worn out," says the North Vancouver woman. Like millions of Canadians, Devine suffers from chronic pain. An estimated 2.2 million Canadians alone have the debilitating nerve condition called neuropathic or nerve pain. Sufferers say ignorance in the general public, the political arena and the medical profession helps explain the failure to treat neuropathic pain. "Politicians don't realize it's such a problem," said Devine, 54, an operating-room nurse who quit work because of the agony caused by nerves in her back. It all started after a small cyst near her spine was removed. Now, 26 surgeries later, she can't sleep for long or go out to dinner, she naps frequently and only use of methadone reduces her pain to tolerable levels. "You're hurting all the time, emotionally as well as physically," said Devine, married with two adult children. "You just get tired." Arthritis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and fibromyalgia are just some of the conditions producing constant pain. Many other people suffer from brutal migraines. And the annual cost of this pain: $12.5 billion in lost productivity. Former Olympian Charmaine Crooks of Calgary watched terrible pain rip her family apart. "My parents died of cancer and I saw the effects they suffered," said the Canadian Olympic Association board member and former elite runner. "So I'm happy to give my voice to this. People suffer in silence." Neuropathic pain expert Dr. Pamela Squire is working on Vancouver Coastal Health's regional pain strategy project. It will eschew the traditional "stepped" approach that slowly increases medication strength to counter pain growth. Squire hopes to start this new project within a year.
"What this service will do is have a central hub, which is the access point for physicians, allied health-care workers and patients," she said. "If you want to see a pain specialist because you've tried all the medications and they haven't worked, you won't have to start from the bottom. I will slot you in with the person you need to see." Major hospitals would handle the difficult cases, with smaller hospitals and community pain specialists managing the other cases. "A pilot in Portland was extremely successful and one of those successes was a reduction in emergency-room visits," Squire said. "It will cost money up front, but it will save money down the road." And, she concluded emphatically, "It would change the lives of so many people" for the better. Ongoing studies at OCT Pain Okanagan Clinical Trials currently has a number of studies dealing with chronic pain. Specifically, if you are an adult with fibromyalgia, post herpetic neuralgia or neuropathic pain, you might be eligible to participate in an ongoing study of investigational medication for one of these conditions. Please contact us for more information. Depression We currently have two ongoing studies examining investigational treatments for depression. If you are an adult and you think you may be depressed, contact our office for more information or to learn if you are eligible to participate in one of these studies. Bipolar Disorder We have an ongoing study dealing with bipolar disorder. If you are currently experiencing a manic episode, contact our office for information about this ongoing study. Anxiety Adults with generalized anxiety disorder are needed for an ongoing study with this condition. Please contact us for information or to schedule a free, no obligation medical assessment. Keep checking our current studies page for more information about ongoing studies – or contact us directly. Studies find pot can trigger paranoia, psychotic symptoms A growing body of evidence shows that marijuana can have serious mental health repercussions. Some recent studies reported the following: This new study, conducted by British doctors at King’s College, scanned the brains of 15 healthy volunteers given small doses of two of the active ingredients of cannabis as well as a placebo. THC was shown to produce temporary psychotic symptoms in some people, including hallucinations and paranoid delusions. Brain scans showed that THC interfered with activity in the inferior frontal cortex, a region of the brain associated with paranoia. Another study from Yale University tested THC on 150 healthy volunteers as well as 13 individuals with stable schizophrenia. Nearly half of the healthy volunteers experienced psychotic symptoms when given the drug. Although the researchers expected THC to improve conditions for the individuals with schizophrenia, the opposite was found to be true. One doctor reported, “In practice, we found that cannabis is very bad for people with schizophrenia.” Ongoing studies at OCT Depression We currently have two ongoing studies examining investigational treatments for depression. If you are an adult and think you may be depressed, contact our office for more information or to learn if you are eligible to participate in one of these studies. You can also complete a questionnaire on our website to assist with determining your eligibility. You will be seen promptly, do not need a referral and all of your medication and treatment will be provided at no cost to you. Pain We have a number of studies dealing with chronic pain. Specifically, if you are an adult with fibromyalgia, post herpetic neuralgia or neuropathic pain, you might be eligible to participate in an ongoing study with one of these conditions. You can also complete a questionnaire on our website to assist with determining your eligibility. You will be seen promptly, do not need a referral and all of your medication and treatment will be provided at no cost to you. Bipolar Disorder We have an ongoing study dealing with bipolar disorder. If you are currently experiencing a manic episode, contact our office for information about this ongoing study. If you are not sure if you are bipolar or if you are manic, we can help figure that out and discuss treatment options even if you are not eligible for the clinical study.You can also complete a questionnaire on our website to assist with determining your eligibility. You will be seen promptly, do not need a referral and all of your medication and treatment will be provided at no cost to you. Anxiety Adults with generalized anxiety disorder are needed for an ongoing study with this condition. This disorder may include some of the following: worrying, tenseness, irritability, insomnia, headaches or other aches and pains, and lack of energy. You can also complete a questionnaire on our website to assist with determining your eligibility. You will be seen promptly, do not need a referral and all of your medication and treatment will be provided at no cost to you. Keep checking our current studies page for more information about ongoing studies – or contact us directly. Patients dealing with schizophrenia often have a lot of hurdles to face in life. Not only do they suffer from a chronic, life-long illness with serious mental health symptoms including hallucinations and delusions, but the medication they must take to control these symptoms often causes side effects that can greatly affect their overall health. Research into new medications is showing some promise in eliminating some of these side effects. One recent news release talked about an experimental treatment for schizophrenia that produces fewer side effects compared with drugs currently in use. The drug is called bifeprunox and is being developed by Wyeth and Solvay Pharmaceuticals. Mid and late stage clinical trials show it helps stable patients to lose weight and improve blood cholesterol, which are common problems with current treatments. Okanagan Clinical Trials will soon be starting a study with this investigational medication. If you or a loved one have schizophrenia and would like to take part, contact our office for more information. Ongoing studies at OCT Depression We have several ongoing studies dealing with depression. If you are an adult experiencing depression, you may be eligible to participate in one of these studies examining investigational medications for depression. Contact us for more information. Social Anxiety Our new study in social anxiety disorder has now begun. If you are an adult who experiences marked and persistent anxiety in social settings, you may be eligible to participate in this study of an investigational medication. Contact our office for more information or to schedule a medical assessment. Generalized Anxiety We also still have a number of ongoing studies dealing with generalized anxiety disorder. Generalized anxiety is characterized by consistent worry about many different things. If you are adult and you believe you may have an anxiety disorder, contact us for a free, no obligation medical assessment and for information about these ongoing studies. Constipation If you regularly take prescription painkillers to treat a chronic condition and have developed constipation as a side effect of these medications, you may be eligible to participate in a new study of an investigational medication. Contact us for more information. Bipolar Disorder Both of our studies in bipolar disorder are well underway. If you are an adult with bipolar disorder and are interested in joining a clinical trial of an investigational medication, you could be eligible to participate in one of our studies. Contact us for a free, no obligation medical assessment or to learn more about these opportunities. Pain We have a number of studies currently dealing with various chronic pain conditions. If you are adult experiencing fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain or post-herpetic neuralgia and would like to learn about research options, contact our office for more information. Keep checking our website for more information about ongoing studies. Happy Holidays from all of us here at OCT! Agomelatine is a new antidepressant with an innovative profile. It is a melatonergic agonist with 5-HT(2c) antagonist properties – which means it works on different neurotransmitters than most other antidepressants currently on the market. Recent studies of its effectiveness at treating major depression found that it did very well at treating the condition. Results also suggested favourable tolerability of agomelatine compared with more common antidepressants and it was associated with less sexual side effects that can be troublesome with some antidepressants. Agomelatine also improves sleep quality without daytime drowsiness and did not cause discontinuation symptoms. This is of particular interest to OCT because we will be involved in upcoming studies of this drug in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Contact us for more information. Ongoing studies at OCT Depression We have several ongoing studies dealing with depression. If you are an adult experiencing depression, you may be eligible to participate in one of these studies examining investigational medications for depression. Contact us for more information. Social Anxiety Our new study in social anxiety disorder has now begun. If you are an adult who experiences marked and persistent anxiety in social settings, you may be eligible to participate in this study of an investigational medication. Contact our office for more information or to schedule a medical assessment. Generalized Anxiety We also still have a number of ongoing studies dealing with generalized anxiety disorder. Generalized anxiety is characterized by consistent worry about many different things. If you are adult and you believe you may have an anxiety disorder, contact us for a free, no obligation medical assessment and for information about these ongoing studies. Constipation If you regularly take prescription painkillers to treat a chronic condition and have developed constipation as a side effect of these medications, you may be eligible to participate in a new study of an investigational medication. Contact us for more information. Bipolar Disorder Our new study in bipolar disorder has now begun. This new study is seeking bipolar adults currently experiencing an episode of depression. We have another study for adults experiencing a manic episode – so if you are an adult with bipolar disorder and are interested in joining a clinical trial of an investigational medication, you could be eligible to participate in one of our studies. Contact us for a free, no obligation medical assessment or to learn more about these opportunities. Pain We have a number of studies currently dealing with various chronic pain conditions. If you are adult experiencing fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain or post-herpetic neuralgia and would like to learn about research options, contact our office for more information. Keep checking our website for more information about ongoing studies. OCT recently partnered with the Kelowna Gospel Mission and the local Wal-Mart store for a very successful stuff a bus event to kick off their annual winter clothing and blanket drive and raise money for the Mission’s Thanksgiving meal. With a city bus on hand to stuff with donations, as well as many dedicated volunteers, we worked with the Gospel Mission and raised an astounding amount of winter clothing and blankets. More than $1,200 was also raised to help give Thanksgiving dinner to more than 350 homeless and low income people in our community. Thank you to everyone who came out and gave generously on Friday October 6! We couldn’t have done it without you. Here are a few pictures from the event. Ongoing studies at OCT Depression We have several ongoing studies dealing with depression. If you are an adult experiencing depression, you may be eligible to participate in one of these studies examining investigational medications for depression. Contact us for more information. Anxiety We have a number of current studies dealing with generalized anxiety disorder and will soon be starting a study with social anxiety disorder. If you are adult and you believe you may have an anxiety disorder, contact us for a free, no obligation medical assessment and for information about these ongoing studies. Constipation If you regularly take prescription painkillers to treat a chronic condition and have developed constipation as a side effect of these medications, you may be eligible to participate in a new study of an investigational medication. Contact us for more information. Bipolar Disorder Our new study in bipolar disorder has now begun. This new study is seeking bipolar adults currently experiencing an episode of depression. We have another study for adults experiencing a manic episode – so if you are an an adult with bipolar disorder and are interested in joining a clinical trial of an investigational medication, you could be eligible to participate in one of our studies. Contact us for a free, no obligation medical assessment or to learn more about these opportunities. Pain We have a number of studies currently dealing with various chronic pain conditions. If you are adult experiencing fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain or post-herpetic neuralgia and would like to learn about research options, contact our office for more information. Keep checking our website for more information about ongoing studies. We recently received news of positive study results from our trial examining alvimopan for opioid induced bowel dysfunction. GlaxoSmithKline recently released results from these phase III studies which were conducted worldwide. The study in which OCT was involved followed more than 500 subjects who were taking opioid pain medication for non-cancer pain and were also experiencing chronic constipation. In this study, 72% of subjects treated with alvimopan had successful alleviation of bowel dysfunction compared to 48% of subjects who received a placebo – or non-active medication. This is statistically significant and shows that alvimopan was successful in its goal of alleviating opioid induced bowel dysfunction. If you have further questions about the results of this study, or would like information about opioid-induced bowel dysfunction, please contact our office. We do have ongoing studies examining other novel medications for this condition. Ongoing studies at OCT The beginning of Fall has meant the start of several new studies here at OCT as well as the continuation of many others. If you suffer from depression or generalized anxiety disorder, it is very likely that we have a study for which you are eligible. We currently have a number of trials going on with these conditions and we’d be happy to discuss them with you. Contact us for information. Constipation A new study examining an investigational treatment for opioid induced constipation is beginning this month. If you regularly take prescription painkillers to treat a chronic condition and have developed constipation as a side effect of these medications, you may be eligible to participate. Contact us for more information. Bipolar Disorder Our new study in bipolar disorder has now begun. This new study is seeking bipolar adults currently experiencing an episode of depression. We have another study for adults experiencing a manic episode – so if you are an an adult with bipolar disorder and are interested in joining a clinical trial of an investigational medication, you could be eligible to participate in one of our studies. Contact us for a free, no obligation medical assessment or to learn more about these opportunities. Pain We have a number of studies currently dealing with various chronic pain conditions. If you are adult experiencing fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain or post-herpetic neuralgia and would like to learn about research options, contact our office for more information. Keep checking our website for more information about ongoing studies. This information was recently published in the journal Hepatology after completion of a Japanese study last month. Study results showed that cholesterol drugs called statins may help treat hepatitis C infections. The tests found that some statin drugs may help stop the hepatitis C virus from replicating. This could mark an important breakthrough in the battle against hepatitis C, which affects an estimated 170 million people worldwide. Current standard treatment involves a combination of interferon and ribavirin, but only helps about half of hepatitis C patients. The rest face the risk of the disease progressing to cirrhosis and liver cancer. More research is necessary, but this finding shows promise for wider use of statin medications. Ongoing studies at OCT We’re still very busy here at OCT with studies continuing to seek volunteers with a variety of conditions. If you suffer from depression or generalized anxiety disorder, it is very likely that we have a study for which you are eligible. We currently have a number of trials going on with these conditions and we’d be happy to discuss them with you. Contact us for information. Constipation A new study examining an investigational treatment for opioid induced constipation is beginning this month. If you regularly take prescription painkillers to treat a chronic condition and have developed constipation as a side effect of these medications, you may be eligible to participate. Contact us for more information. Bipolar Disorder We have a new study in bipolar disorder starting up very soon. If you are an adult with bipolar disorder and are interested in joining a clinical trial of an investigational medication, you could be eligible to participate in one of our studies. Contact us for a free, no obligation medical assessment or to learn more about these opportunities. Fibromyalgia Our fibromyalgia study continues. If you suffer from fibromyalgia and are interested in participating in a research study for this condition, contact us to learn more. Pain This study in chronic neuropathic pain is still ongoing. If you experience chronic pain such as diabetic neuropathy, post herpetic neuralgia, phantom limb pain, burning mouth syndrome or other forms of neuropathic pain, you could be eligible to participate. Contact our office to learn more. Keep checking our website for more information about ongoing studies. We are currently seeking a full time receptionist with experience in a medical office. Proficiency with Osler and Simply Accounting computer software preferred. Must have excellent reception skills, be comfortable with computers, enjoy working in a team environment and be capable of conscientious attention to detail. Must be prepared to start by July 31. Salary to be negotiated. Please sent resumes to: Dr. Paul Latimer Fax: 250 862-8130 Or send by email to dr@okanaganclinicaltrials.com Breakthrough in Huntington’s Research From: The Province, June 19 Researchers at the University of B.C. have found the needle in the Huntington's disease haystack -- a cure for mice that may work for humans, too. One in 10,000 Canadians has the fatal genetic disease where a mutant form of a protein called huntingtin is created. Dr. Rona Graham, lead author of a study published in the science journal Cell, said research was part of her PhD project under the supervision of Dr. Michael Hayden at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics. A decade ago, Hayden's team discovered that huntingtin is cut by scissor-like enzymes. They thought the resulting pieces might cause the damaging effects of Huntington disease, a hereditary brain disorder. Graham genetically modified huntingtin so it couldn't be cut by the scissors, called caspace-6. In doing so, the team found a cure in mice. "It's an exciting step and there's a tremendous amount of work to be done," said Hayden. Jeff Carroll, a PhD student in Hayden's lab, has a family history of Huntington's disease. Tests show he will get the disease in his lifetime. He will work on the next phase of the research to try to find a drug that stops the protein-cutting process in mice. If successful, the work will then be done in humans. "It might really be five years or seven years before we have a drug in a clinic and that's worth going to work for everyday," he said. New Studies Several new studies are now underway including studies in depression, generalized anxiety disorder and fibromyalgia. If you have already contacted us about our current studies with these conditions, but didn’t meet the criteria, you may be eligible for one of these newer ones. Ongoing Studies Pain If you experience chronic neuropathic pain, we still have a study ongoing dealing with most kinds of neuropathic pain. These conditions could include diabetic neuropathy, post herpetic neuralgia, phantom limb pain, burning mouth syndrome and more. Contact our office to learn more or to find out if you are eligible to participate. Keep checking our website for more information about ongoing studies. Everyday we read about it - long waiting lists for specialist appointments, serious shortages of family doctors and nurses, lack of sufficient hospital beds, patients being cared for in closets and corridors, code purples, dangerously overcrowded emergency rooms, elderly couples being separated in long-term care and dying alone away from lifelong partners and family. These and other problems are in the news daily and it’s no coincidence. These are the inevitable consequences of management decisions made over the past 20 years. During this time almost everything about the way medicine is practiced has changed. The government is now fully in charge and controls all aspects of the delivery of health care. These officials have not taken the Hippocratic Oath and they are more interested in the bottom-line and re-election than with quality health care. Of course, they offer platitudes about caring, progress and improvements, but their actions are there to be judged. Unfortunately, government ministers do not consult health care providers or consumers/patients when they close beds, cut services or reduce budgets. Our current physician shortage was a deliberate strategy by the government to control costs. They reasoned that every doctor costs the system dollars and that by reducing the number of doctors it would be possible to control costs. The same is true when it comes to bed shortages. Government philosophy has been that if we build them, they will come. It’s not the cost of the physical beds that concerns the government; it’s operating those beds at full capacity. In fact, hospitals did have more beds open, but they were closed to save money. Of course, government promised that alternative, less costly community resources such as assisted living and long-term care beds would be opened to replace the hospital beds, but that didn’t happen. Along with these disastrous decisions, was a systematic and cynical attempt to discredit health care providers who were in a position to challenge these decisions. Doctors were vilified and discredited at every opportunity. Medical advisory committees at hospitals were neutered. Decisions were increasingly made without meaningful input from health care providers. But now the consequences of these decisions are increasingly obvious to everyone – or almost everyone. Government officials are still in denial and still trying to cast off any responsibility for these consequences. These consequences have been entirely predictable and were predicted by health care providers. Problems are so obvious now though that many ordinary citizens are simply saying “we are not going to take it anymore”. Increasingly, they are taking action. There are letters to the editor, media exposés, public inquests and lawsuits. In almost every case the public attention brings action, but is usually met with initial denial and platitudes about everyone trying to do their best. Unfortunately, the action that comes is usually in the form of a meeting, review or study, which provides answers that are obvious from the outset and serves to delay any meaningful solutions that will of necessity involve more money. The most recent incident in the media involves the actions of doctors in the lower mainland handing out letters to patients saying that conditions in the ER were unsafe. The health minister initially responded with incredulity saying that not a shred of evidence had been presented to substantiate the claims. He had egg on his face when a series of specific examples of inadequate and even dangerous care were put forward by both doctors and patients. Others referenced a long list of letters and reports outlining the problems that have gone to various government officials over the past several years. They have been ignored as usual. The government has to be confronted in a public, crisis oriented manner to get any action. Sadly, officials don’t listen to the people on the frontline, convinced as they are that all such reports have ulterior motives. I can say from personal experience that these problems have been discussed and anticipated for at least 10 years at hospital medical advisory committees. No one is ever held accountable. Blame is placed at the feet of the previous government, minister, or the regional management. Unfortunately, the issue is soon forgotten and no one is held accountable. About the worst that can happen is that one party is elected over another. The problem is that all the parties do the same thing and they are all faced with the same issue. Health care costs a lot of money and no one is willing to make the fundamental changes that will make care sustainable at the levels we all expect. Our government wants to say that we have the best health care system in the world and it is available to every one – but right now it isn’t the best and it isn’t available to everyone when people are dying on waiting lists and on stretchers in the corridors of our hospitals. Hard decisions are going to have to be made and continuing to say that we can be more efficient just won’t cut it. Maybe the public health care system can’t afford everything for everyone. If not, then we better know that and decide what to do about it. It isn’t good enough to say we can and we will but simply not do it. That is what is happening now. Everyone likes the idea of universal health care but the government is not willing to spend the money. Are the voters? Maybe it’s time to ask us what we are willing to pay for and what we expect in return. New Studies We have several new studies starting up in the next month. These include a new study in generalized anxiety disorder as well as a new depression study. If you have already contacted us about our current studies with these conditions, but didn’t meet the criteria, you may be eligible for one of these newer ones. Ongoing Studies Pain If you experience chronic neuropathic pain, we still have a study ongoing dealing with most kinds of neuropathic pain. These conditions could include diabetic neuropathy, post herpetic neuralgia, phantom limb pain, burning mouth syndrome and more. Contact our office to learn more or to find out if you are eligible to participate. Keep checking our website for more information about ongoing studies. We have recently added a great new feature to our website – questionnaires on some of the conditions we are currently studying. You can simply click on the questionnaire to learn if you may meet the criteria for diagnosis with that condition or if you might be eligible to participate in one of our ongoing trials. Once the questionnaire is submitted, a member of our staff will contact you to give you more information and determine if you would like to be treated or to volunteer for the study. Finishing Studies We are no longer recruiting for the study in premenstrual dysphoria. Thank you to all who expressed an interest. New Studies We have several new studies starting up in the next month. These include a new study in generalized anxiety disorder as well as a new depression study. If you have already contacted us about our current studies with these conditions, but didn’t meet the criteria, you may be eligible for one of these newer ones. Ongoing Studies Anxiety If you are an adult experiencing chronic anxiety, there is a very good chance you will be eligible to participate in one of our ongoing studies with this condition. Contact our office to learn more or to schedule a free, no obligation medical assessment. Depression Our depression study is still underway. If you are an adult experiencing depression, you may be eligible to participate. Contact us for more information. Pain If you experience chronic neuropathic pain, we still have a study ongoing dealing with most kinds of neuropathic pain. These conditions could include diabetic neuropathy, post herpetic neuralgia, phantom limb pain, burning mouth syndrome and more. Contact our office to learn more or to find out if you are eligible to participate. Keep checking our website for more information about ongoing studies. Most modern medical research – including all the studies we conduct at OCT – is focusing on the creation of more and more personalized medicine. A recent news story tells us more about some of the challenges faced by the biotechnology sector when trying to develop this personalized medicine. Personalized medicine is based on the belief that treatments could be based on the particular genetic makeup of individual patients – and that this is the future of medicine. With this in mind, the biotech sector is struggling with the question of who will pay for the increased diagnostic measures that will be needed for this new model of medicine. According to leading experts in the field, predictive medicines that will be more effective with certain groups based on genetic makeup are the new “holy grail” for the biotech industry. And the pharmaceutical industry thinks so too. As scientists better understand the biology of disease, it will become easier to develop medicines that are effective for specific gene groups. Not only will these new technologies and treatments be more effective, they will also be more expensive as specific gene groups would need to be identified before beginning treatment. Regulations will also likely change to ensure the diagnostic methods are in place and accessible to go along with the new drugs. The question that will remain is whether insurance companies and government health care plans will cover the increased costs to patients. -Source Drug Industry Daily Finishing studies Social Anxiety Disorder Recruitment is ending this week for our study in social anxiety disorder. Thank you to all who contacted us and expressed interest in this trial. Once the treatment phase of the study is complete and the details have been analyzed, we will post some results here for your information. Ongoing Studies Anxiety We have several studies ongoing for anxiety disorders and a few more scheduled to start in the near future. If you are an adult experiencing chronic anxiety, there is a very good chance you will be eligible to participate in one of these. Contact our office to learn more or to schedule a free, no obligation medical assessment. Depression Our depression study is still underway. If you are an adult experiencing depression, you may be eligible to participate. Contact us for more information. Premenstrual Dysphoria This study is still ongoing. We are looking for women between the ages of 18 and 49 who experience severe premenstrual symptoms. If you or someone you know suffers from severe PMS, contact our office to learn more about this ongoing study and to find out if you are eligible to participate. Take a look at our current studies page for information on other studies that are seeking volunteers. Pain If you experience chronic neuropathic pain, we still have a study ongoing dealing with any kind of neuropathic pain. These conditions could include diabetic neuropathy, post herpetic neuralgia, phantom limb pain, burning mouth syndrome and more. Contact our office to learn more or to find out if you are eligible to participate. Keep checking our website for more information about ongoing studies. Read the article below about a recent study of a new medication for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. This is promising news and is one more tool to help us deal with this chronic and often debilitating condition. Cymbalta Reduces Generalized Anxiety Symptoms Eli Lilly's antidepressant drug Cymbalta significantly reduces the core symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, according to a recent clinical study. According to the nine-week study, Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl) improved core anxiety symptoms — such as moodiness, fear and tension — by 51 percent in patients taking a 60-mg daily dose and by 50 percent in patients taking a 120-mg daily dose, compared to an improvement of 32 percent in patients taking a placebo, Lilly said recently. The study involved roughly 500 patients. In addition, Cymbalta significantly reduced overall pain by 41 percent and 37 percent in the 60- and 120-mg doses respectively, compared to 16 percent in patients taking the placebo. Cymbalta is approved in the U.S. for treating adults with major depressive disorder and for those experiencing diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain. "We are encouraged by these results that suggest Cymbalta may address a broad range of core anxiety symptoms and the associated physical symptoms that are often reported in patients with generalized anxiety disorder," said James Russell, a medical adviser with Eli Lilly. -source FDA News Ongoing Studies Anxiety We have several studies ongoing for anxiety disorders and a few more scheduled to start in the near future. If you are an adult experiencing chronic anxiety, there is a very good chance you will be eligible to participate in one of these. Contact our office to learn more or to schedule a free, no obligation medical assessment. Premenstrual Dysphoria This study is still ongoing. We are looking for women between the ages of 18 and 49 who experience severe premenstrual symptoms. If you or someone you know suffers from severe PMS, contact our office to learn more about this ongoing study and to find out if you are eligible to participate. Pain If you experience chronic neuropathic pain, we still have a study ongoing dealing with any kind of neuropathic pain. These conditions could include diabetic neuropathy, post herpetic neuralgia, phantom limb pain, burning mouth syndrome and more. Contact our office to learn more or to find out if you are eligible to participate. Keep checking our website for more information about ongoing studies. Osteoarthritis of the Knee Results If you participated in our recent study of osteoarthritis of the knee, thank you! We have received notification of some results from this trial. This study was evaluating the effectiveness of a new drug and comparing it against Celebrex – a medication already approved for this condition as well as placebo. More than 1,300 people participated in the study and results now show that the new drug was not effective. In all three dose groups, the new medication did not show superiority to placebo, but comparative medicine Celebrex was shown to be effective in all groups. Although the new drug will not go forward in development, this study has re-affirmed the efficacy of Celebrex. If you have any questions about your participation, please contact our office. Ongoing Studies Anxiety We have several studies ongoing for anxiety disorders and a few more scheduled to start in the near future. If you are an adult experiencing chronic anxiety, there is a very good chance you will be eligible to participate in one of these. Contact our office to learn more or to schedule a free, no obligation medical assessment. Depression We also have several depression studies underway. If you are depressed and are interested in participating in one of our studies of investigational medications for this condition, contact our office to learn more. Premenstrual Dysphoria This study is still ongoing. We are looking for women between the ages of 18 and 49 who experience severe premenstrual symptoms. If you or someone you know suffers from severe PMS, contact our office to learn more about this ongoing study and to find out if you are eligible to participate. Take a look at our current studies page for information on other studies that are seeking volunteers. e’re hiring! We are currently hiring for a number of positions: To view our other career listings, check out our Careers page on the industry professionals side of our site: www.okanaganclinicaltrials.com/industry/careers
The first two months of 2006 have gone by in a flash and our office is busier than ever. We still have many studies seeking volunteers for a variety of medical conditions and are also starting to get results from recently completed trials. Elderly Depression Results If you participated in last year’s study for depression in the elderly, thank you! We have received notification of some results from this trial.
There were 204 subjects in the group receiving placebo and 210 in the medication group and this study found that the medication – buproprion XL – was more effective than placebo. Adverse events were similar among both those taking active and inactive medication. 59% of individuals in the group receiving the inactive placebo reported some adverse events and 57% of those taking the active medication reported adverse events. Headache, dry mouth and nausea were the three most common adverse events and both headache and nausea were more commonly experienced by those in the placebo group than those taking the medication. Only dry mouth was more common in the group taking buproprion. No single adverse event was reported by more than five per cent of subjects or at twice the incidence of the placebo group. Bupropion XL showed a significant benefit over placebo for symptom improvement, quality of life, motivation and energy and subject satisfaction. Bupropion XL has now been approved in Canada and will be available by prescription soon. If you were a participant in this study, you will be receiving a call soon from Carol Fazekas to let you know whether you received bupropion XL or placebo during your participation. Anxiety We have several studies ongoing for anxiety disorders and a few more scheduled to start in the near future. If you are an adult experiencing chronic anxiety, there is a very good chance you will be eligible to participate in one of these. Contact our office to learn more or to schedule a free, no obligation medical assessment. Depression We also have several depression studies underway. If you are depressed and are interested in participating in one of our studies of investigational medications for this condition, contact our office to learn more. Premenstrual Dysphoria This study is still ongoing. We are looking for women between the ages of 18 and 49 who experience severe premenstrual symptoms. If you or someone you know suffers from severe PMS, contact our office to learn more about this ongoing study and to find out if you are eligible to participate. Take a look at our current studies page for information on other studies that are seeking volunteers. We’re hiring Our busy office is seeking another clinical research coordinator to join our team. If you have experience in the clinical research field and would like to join our busy and dynamic team, this might be the opportunity for you. Read more about the job and expectations on our careers page on the industry professionals side of our website and send your application to Dr. Paul Latimer by email to dr@okanaganclinicaltrials.com, fax to 862-8130 or mail it to our office. From all of us at Okanagan Clinical Trials we’d like to wish you a very happy new year and all the best in 2006. Our office is starting the year off with a splash now that we have opened up some of our newly renovated space. This is giving us more room so that we can take on more studies and continue to serve our volunteers and clients better. We’re hiring Our busy office is seeking another clinical research coordinator to join our team. If you have experience in the clinical research field and would like to join our busy and dynamic team, this might be the opportunity for you. Read more about the job and expectations on our careers page on the industry professionals side of our website and send your application to Dr. Paul Latimer by email to dr@okanaganclinicaltrials.com, fax to 862-8130 or mail it to our office.
New studies Many of our studies are continuing from 2005, but several new studies have also started up. Depression We have two new depression studies underway and both are seeking adults with this condition to evaluate the effectiveness of an investigational medication. Anxiety We currently have several anxiety studies ongoing at Okanagan Clinical Trials. Contact us if you are an adult experiencing an anxiety disorder. Our newly started study is seeking volunteers with generalized anxiety disorder. If you are between the ages of 18 and 65 and have experienced chronic feelings of anxiety for the past six months, you may be eligible to participate. Diabetes We have two studies examining treatments for type II Diabetes. If you are an adult with type II diabetes, are newly diagnosed or taking metformin alone and having difficulty controlling your disorder, you may be eligible to participate. Make sure to take some time to look at our current studies page to learn more about the other studies that are currently enrolling – and please contact us if you have any questions or would like to schedule a free, no obligation medical assessment to determine if you meet the criteria for any of them. Photography Dr. Paul Latimer’s new photo gallery is now up on the web. To view his beautiful photography or purchase prints, visit his site at www.paullatimerphoto.com New Staff As the renovations in our expanded office space continue, we have hired another person to join our growing team here at OCT. Colleen Evans has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and has spent five years working as the first mental health advocate in the Okanagan. She also established the Okanagan Advocacy and Resource Society and acted as the Executive Director. She is very knowledgeable about mental health services in the Okanagan and has been a strong advocate for disenfranchised clients dealing with a variety of issues. She is a great addition to our growing team. Win Your Christmas Dinner! Visit Coopers grocery store at 45-3155 Lakeshore Rd. December 1-23 and enter for a chance to win your Christmas dinner. Okanagan Clinical Trials is sponsoring this draw and the winner will receive a $300 gift certificate for groceries from Coopers. The draw will be held December 23rd so visit soon for your chance to win. Happy holidays everyone and good luck! Studies Constipation We are still seeking volunteers experiencing constipation as a result of opiate pain reliever use. If you are an adult experiencing constipation as a result of prescribed pain reliever use, you may be eligible to participate in this study. Please contact us for information and a free, no obligation medical assessment. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Enrollment is still underway and volunteers are needed for this study. If you experience severe premenstrual symptoms that are disrupting your life, you could be eligible to participate in this clinical trial. We are examining a new medication to help control these symptoms so that women can thrive throughout the month. Bipolar Disorder We still have two studies going on with this disorder. If you are an adult with bipolar disorder, you may be eligible to participate in one of these studies. Call us for more information. Make sure to take some time to look at our current studies page to learn more about the other studies that are currently enrolling – and please contact us if you have any questions or would like to schedule a free, no obligation medical assessment to determine if you meet the criteria for any of them. Split paragraphs into different sets of tags. This week we have exciting news about our ever-expanding office space. We have recently taken possession of another block of offices in our building and renovations are underway! With this additional space we now occupy more than 5,000 square feet on the third floor of this medical building and are exciting about the opportunities for expanding our business capabilities as our space increases. Again this week we have another new staff member joining our team. Hazel Campbell comes to us from UBC Okanagan and she is joining us as an administrative assistant. She has many years of experience working as an executive assistant in health care and research settings and we are looking forward to her contribution at OCT. Studies Crohn’s Disease Since the last installment, our study in Crohn’s Disease has finished enrollment. We wish to thank all those who expressed an interest in this study and who have taken part as volunteers. Once the data has been fully collected and analyzed, we will update you again on the results. Constipation We are still seeking volunteers experiencing constipation as a result of opiate pain reliever use. If you are an adult experiencing constipation as a result of prescribed pain reliever use, you may be eligible to participate in this study. Please contact us for information and a free, no obligation medical assessment. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Enrollment is still underway and volunteers are needed for this study. If you experience severe premenstrual symptoms that are disrupting your life, you could be eligible to participate in this clinical trial. We are examining a new medication to help control these symptoms so that women can thrive throughout the month. The new medication in this study is hormonal and will result in suppression of ovulation and menses. Social Anxiety Disorder Are you extremely shy? Is this causing you to have trouble at work or in social situations? If so, you might have social anxiety disorder. Our study in social anxiety disorder is well underway and we are seeking adults between the ages of 18 and 65 who experience this extreme shyness. Help is available – contact us for more information. Make sure to take some time to look at our current studies page to learn more about the other studies that are currently enrolling – and please contact us if you have any questions or would like to schedule a free, no obligation medical assessment to determine if you meet the criteria for any of them. If you call or email and don’t hear back from us, call again. With all the changes and new staff sometimes a call back is inadvertently missed. We try not to let that happen but every once in a while it does. We want to hear from you.
New Staff Since we are increasingly busy with many exciting new studies underway, we have added new members to our growing team. Patricia Thompson is a registered nurse with more than 25 years of experience in both clinical and research situations. Her varied experience includes many years working extensively in the areas of endocrinology, gerontology, renal and cardiovascular medicine. She has worked for pharmaceutical sponsors, large contract research organizations and university research teams and now brings her expertise to our team as one of our clinical research coordinators. Elizabeth Andersen is a registered nurse with a Masters degree and more than 20 years of experience working in academic, research and clinical settings. She has extensive experience in the area of the psychopathology of older adults with very recent research experience in Alzheimer’s Disease. She is currently working to complete her PhD and brings her skills to our team as one of our excellent clinical research coordinators. Patricia and Elizabeth are now in the office and looking forward to meeting you when you come in for an appointment. New Space We are also expanding the office space to accommodate our growing business. Renovations have just been completed to expand our space and provide even more comfortable and state of the art room for our valued study volunteers and staff to meet and work. New Studies Several new studies have started in the past month: Constipation We now have a study examining a new drug in the treatment of constipation caused by regular opiate pain reliever use. If you are an adult experiencing constipation as a result of prescribed pain reliever use, you may be eligible to participate in this study. The goal is to provide effective relief of bowel symptoms while not limiting the effectiveness of pain medication. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder This study is now underway and is testing the effectiveness of a new medication to treat this serious form of premenstrual syndrome. If you are a woman who experiences severe premenstrual symptoms, you may meet the criteria for this study. Social Anxiety Disorder This is another new study that is now underway. For this trial we are seeking adults aged 18 to 65 who experience extreme anxiety when faced with social situations. If you or someone you know suffers from this extreme shyness, this might be a good opportunity to seek help. Make sure to take some time to look at our current studies page to learn more about the many studies we currently have going on – and please contact us if you have any questions or would like to schedule a free, no obligation medical assessment to determine if you meet the criteria for any of them. Hello and welcome to our newly designed website! We hope you find it easy to navigate. The summer has been busy with continued work in all our studies. Now that September is upon us, here is a quick update: Insomnia: Our insomnia study has now finished looking for new volunteers. We will keep you posted as we learn of its progress and the results. Osteoarthritis of the knee: This study has also finished recruiting. Thank you to all who contacted us. Depression: We have several depression trials underway for adults with this condition. Please contact us to learn if you meet the criteria. Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Again, we have several studies ongoing with GAD. If you are an adult who suffers with generalized anxiety, contact us to learn more details about our studies with this condition. We also have several new studies starting up now including a study looking at premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a neuropathic pain study, a social anxiety disorder study and one examining a new treatment for opiate induced bowel dysfunction. For more information on these or any of our other ongoing studies, take a look at our current studies page or contact us directly. Recent columns on neuropathic pain and the stigma surrounding the homeless have received positive feedback. Check out our columns page to read more about these.
Robert Latimer gets parole
Posted on Thursday, March 6, 2008
3,000 commit suicide each day
Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008
Research shows depression may have impact on overall health
Posted on Monday, October 22, 2007
Chronic pain hurts many
Posted on Monday, June 18, 2007
May is mental health awareness month!
Posted on Saturday, May 12, 2007
New antipsychotic meds showing less side effects
Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006
New antidepressant proves to be effective
Posted on Monday, November 13, 2006
Stuff a bus in the spirit of Thanksgiving!
Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Study Results!
Posted on Sunday, September 17, 2006
Study shows cholesterol drugs may treat Hepatitis C
Posted on Friday, August 25, 2006
We're Hiring!
Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006
Okanagan Clinical Trials
304-3001 Tutt St
Kelowna, BC V1Y 2H4
By Yumimi Pang
What happened to quality health care?
Posted on Monday, June 19, 2006
Web questionnaires now online!
Posted on Friday, June 2, 2006
Personalized Medicine
Posted on Saturday, May 6, 2006
News about Anxiety Medication
Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006
More Study Results!
Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006
Busy Winter
Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Happy New Year!
Posted on Thursday, January 5, 2006
Win Your Christmas Dinner!
Posted on Thursday, November 24, 2005
More Growth!
Posted on Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Our office is growing!
Posted on Friday, October 7, 2005
Welcome!
Posted on Thursday, September 1, 2005
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