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

Abstract

ObjectiveTo give a review of the history of SCNP since the first meeting in 1960 with specific focus on UKU.MethodsConsulting the appropriate minutes from the meetings.ResultsOne 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.ConclusionIt is suggested that a revival of UKU to provide a platform for dialogue among government, industry, and academia could help break the impasse.