ANTI-DEPRESSANT DRUG TRIALS

Early day motion 1041, tabled 26 February 2008 by Paul Flynn (Labour). Signed by 39 members.

That this House welcomes the revelation under Freedom of Information of un-published trial reports on anti-depressants that prove they are no more effective than placebos for the great majority of patients; deplores the practice of pharmaceutical companies of suppressing publication of trials with negative results that has encouraged the over-prescription of drugs that have serious adverse side-effects; and calls for a re-appraisal of the efficacy of drug treatment for mild depression compared with the drug-free therapies of exercise and cognitive behaviour therapy.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Liberal Democrat 12, DUP 2, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.