Annals of Internal Medicine Tip Sheet for May 15, 2007

1. Drug Market Research Goes Back 50 Years, Aided by Physicians and Physician Organizations

   Examination of physicians’ prescribing patterns and accumulation and sale of this information by the health care information organization industry is not new and was not imposed upon the medical profession by the pharmaceutical industry, an author writes (History of Medicine, p. 742).

   Prescriber profiling was developed through interactions by the industry with active participation by practicing physicians and their organizations. For example, the American Medical Association’s Physician Masterfile, information from which is sold by the AMA, “requires participation from both professional associations and practicing physicians,” the writer says.

   Legislation or policy to remedy issues of prescriber profiling must recognize the role not only of the pharmaceutical industry but also of physicians and physician organizations who collectively bear responsibility for proper utilization.

   An editorial writer calls for an end to “physician participation in marketing research and the sale of physician prescribing data to marketing firms” (Editorial, p. 751).

2. Managing Depression in Older Adults Linked to Lower Death Rates

   A new study of 1,226 older adults in 20 primary care practices found that the death rate of those with depression who were enrolled in a depression management group was lower than those with depression receiving usual care (Article, p. 689). The effect appears mainly in deaths that were due to cancer. The reason for the effect is not clear.

3. Fibromyalgia Review: Patients Experience Pain Differently From Norm

   A review of published literature on fibromyalgia finds that patients with the condition, which is characterized by chronic muscle pain and stiffness, have a lower pain threshold than healthy individuals (Review, p. 726). The cause and treatment of the syndrome are not well understood. The review provides an overview of the mechanisms currently thought to be partly responsible for fibromyalgia pain.

Embargoed for release until 5 p.m. EDT, Monday, MAY 14, 2007

Note: Annals of Internal Medicine is published by the American College of Physicians. These highlights are not intended to substitute for articles as sources of information.