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In this month's issue:
What You Need to Know about Clinical Trials
Recently at Headache and Migraine News
Say what?! Meta-analysis
What You Need to Know about Clinical Trials
Sometimes we think of Science as this huge, well-oiled, machine. One by one the mysteries of the universe fall. One by one problems are solved. It's only a matter of time.
So what's taking so long?!
I'm thankful for studies and clinic trials and research. Without them we'd know a lot less than we do. And that's why we support the Migraine Research Foundation.
But to really use clinical trials we need to understand their weaknesses as well. So we're going to dedicate just a little time to think about those weaknesses in particular.- Clinical trails and other studies take time and money. This shouldn't surprise anyone. But sometimes this becomes a problem. What if some obscure researcher comes up with an excellent new treatment for cluster headache? That person doesn't have the money to fund a good clinical trial. So when do you think that treatment will become available? It could be many years before someone with money takes notice.
- Clinical trials and other studies don't always say what we think they say. For example, do you remember the media buzz about slimmer waistlines for migraine? Or what about the warning that your vitamins may be killing you? It's so easy to jump to conclusions.
- Clinical trials and other studies are often designed to promote something. Trials are designed to find only certain facts - and those can be used by someone trying to sell you something. What if a drug is found to help decrease nausea in migraine? Great - but does the study tell us what it does for other symptoms? Can you take it in combination with other drugs? What type of people were helped? What other factors are involved?
- Clinical trials and studies that don't say "the right thing" can disappear. Scary but true - many well designed trials are not being properly published - could it be because they say something that isn't convenient for a drug company, for example? (read more in The Case of the Missing Studies: Patients missing critical information)
- Clinical trials and other studies are often difficult to interpret. Even experts can disagree about what a study means in practical terms.
- Clinical trials and studies often disagree with one another. Conflicting results are a constant reality (this, for example, has been a part of the Botox for migraine roller coaster ride over the past few years - check out, for example, Botox for chronic migraine?)
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Careful - I'm not saying we should throw out clinical trials. I quote them here constantly. But take them with a grain of salt. Science today is not the noble, well run, impartial, and precise world we sometimes believe it to be. It's usually an art form, very often political, and generally human. It usually tells a part of the story - but we have a lot to learn.
My advice? Learn about these trials and studies. Read what other researchers and doctors say about them. Think for yourself. Do your own research. And realize that we do not have a perfect treatment, or a perfect understanding of migraine or cluster or whatever headache disorder you'd like to talk about.
Clinical trials are very useful - but they're not the last word.
Recently at Headache and Migraine News
Some recent articles you won't want to miss:
Say what?! Meta-analysis
One type of research you'll often see is the meta-analysis, or systematic review. This type of study will take a group of other studies - such as clinical trials - and try to find an overall pattern. For example, do the majority of studies say that such-and-such a treatment is effective?
Thanks for reading! Remember, if you have feedback or ideas for future issues, visit the HeadWay MailRoom. Your password is nomoache.
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