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A short historical review of SCNP with special reference to the UKU

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2013

Per Bech  and
Thomas A. Ban
Per Bech*
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatric Centre North Zealand, University of Copenhagen, DK-3400 Hillerød, Denmark
Thomas A. Ban
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
*
Per Bech, Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatric Centre North Zealand, University of Copenhagen, Hillerød, Denmark. Tel.: +45 38 64 30 98; Fax: +45 48 26 38 77; E-mail: Per.bech@regionh.dk
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Abstract

Objective

To give a review of the history of SCNP since the first meeting in 1960 with specific focus on UKU.

Methods

Consulting the appropriate minutes from the meetings.

Results

One of the major goals of the SCNP was the standardization of clinical trials with psychotropic drugs. In 1969, the SCNP established a Committee for Clinical Investigations (UKU) with the representation of clinical investigators and the drug industry; moreover, during the 1970s and ’80s, the UKU initiated clinical trialsand contributed to the methodology of clinical investigations with psychotropic drugs. With the decrease in governmental funding and increasing influence of the US Food and Drug Administration on themethodology of clinical investigations around the world in the 1990s, the UKU was dissolved. The changes had a detrimental effect on the developments on the methodology of clinical investigations, and the lack of clinical feedback led to an impasse in psychotropic drug development with some pharmaceutical companies abandoning research in the central nervous system area.

Conclusion

It is suggested that a revival of UKU to provide a platform for dialogue among government, industry, and academia could help break the impasse.

Keywords

clinical methodologycommittee for clinical investigatorspsychotropic drug developmentSCNPstandardisation of clinical trialsUKU.
Type
Review Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , February 2014 , pp. 4 - 7
Copyright
Copyright © Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2013 

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