Abstract

CABALLERO, Andrea; GOMEZ-RESTREPO, Carlos  and  RODRIGUEZ G, Maritza. Conflicts of Interest and Publication Biases: A Problem of Psychiatric Literature?. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2008, vol.37, n.4, pp.627-638. ISSN 0034-7450.

Introduction: The medical and psychiatric literature is going through an unprecedented crisis of credibility because of the increasingly growing presence of bias (predominantly publication bias) and conflicts of interest (predominantly financial ones). Physicians, patients and industry have the common interest of finding the most effective treatment, but it is clear that the presence of secondary interests is generating conflicts that must be always studied, analyzed and reported. Objectives: To define bias, interest and conflict of interest; to discuss relevant aspects of the relationship between industry and researchers, to review the possible solutions to conflicts of interest and to explain the current available recommendations. Method: Narrative review based on the available medical literature. Results and conclusions: Among the biases and confl icts of interest the most important are the publication bias and the financial conflict of interest; it is essential for us to recognize the conflicts of interest so we can make a critical review of the medical literature.

Keywords : Conflict of interest; bias; publication bias.

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