New name: Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse Volume 24, Number 1 Division 28 - The American Psychological Association Spring, 1991 I PRESIDENT'S LETTER article "The psychopharmacological era: Notes toward a history" (1990), has argued that "...the belief that clinical Klaus Miczek advances are made through the heroic achievements of President, Division 28 disinterested scientists is a simplistic view that may militate against future significant discoveries." But is serendipity an Discovery in Psychopharmacology adequate and future-oriented explanation for the course of discovery in psychopharmacology? There are indeed seri- "Mater artium necessitas," the old Roman proverb ous hidden dangers in portraying psychopharmacology as goes.... Or is it really luck, and not necessity, that is the an enterprise that relies chiefly on chance. true mother of invention? The shocking thing about the 1 early discoveries in psychopharmacology for experimental Reference to serendipitous discoveries feeds the cur- researchers is their seemingly non-planned, serendipitous rent anti-science sentiment of a small, vocal minority. nature. More than two-thirds of the 30 "biggest" CNS drugs Although remarkably superior to the earlier treatment during the first decade of pharmacotherapy for affective practices for affective disorders and for drug abuse, the disorders have been claimed@ originate not from system- early finds of modern psychopharmacology can only be atic chemical, biotogicGd behavioral research, but from considered as starting points for pharmacotherapies that apparently lucky circumstances and so-called accidents. As are more conceptually and practically satisfactory. To be a matter of fact, W. Sneader, of the University of Strath- ready for unusual findings in the process of experimenting clyde in Glasgow, Scotland, stated, "In the absence of a and investigating is indeed a necessary prerequisite charac- coherent understanding of the pathological basis of a dis- teristic of the alert and well-informed researcher who in ease, only serendipity can provide effective drugs for treat- retrospect is considered the "lucky winner." The easy and ment. Nowhere is this more evident than in an examination cheap findings in psychopharmacology are behind us. of the history of psychotherapeutic drugs." Everyone enjoys Affective disorders and drug abuse are complex and diffi- recounting the convoluted trail of discovery of chlorproma- cult problems escaping monocausal explanations. Multidis- zine as a failed antihistamine, to "le cocktail psychoanaly- ciplinary efforts are required to disentangle a web of inter- tique," to its ultimate role as an antipsychotic. How else acting genetic, developmental, social, and environmental can one account for the circuitous routes of the methyl- factors that render a given individual more liable to become substituted hydrazine derivatives such as iproniazide that seriously dependent on heroin or cocaine. But, how to sell were first developed from the confiscated stockpiles of the complexity? V2 rocket fuels, then found to inhibit monoamine oxidase in rat and also in human brain, before they were ultimately Serendipity should not be used as an excuse for failing tried as antidepressants. Psychopharmacology, more than to invest in educating future researchers in psychopharma- other scientific endeavors--cynical critics maintain--seems cology. At present, tangible results for clinical application to have been the particular beneficiary of serendipitous within a few years have become the yardstick by which discoveries. psychopharmacological research efforts are being meas- ured. A long string of "me-too" drugs continues to be the Serendipity has been a consistent theme in lectures and outcome of such a strategy. Enormous investments are symposia on the early discoveries in psychopharmacology-- required to educate young researchers who are equally as, for example, by the British Association of Psychophar- well-grounded in the behavioral and biological sciences. It macology and the American College of Neuropsychophar- is this interdisciplinary perspective, however, that will macology during the past few months. David Healy, in his engender innovation. PROFILES OF CANDIDATES human behavioral pharmacology; substance abuse treat- FOR DIVISION 28 OFFICE ment research; development and evaluation of behavioral and pharmacological treatments for drug abuse and tobac- In mid-May, you will receive a ballot asking you to vote co dependence. Current position: Associate Professor of for two Division 28 officers, President-Elect and Psychiatry and Behavioral Biology, Johns Hopkins Univer- Member-at-large. The winners of these elections will take sity School of Medicine. Memberships: APA, Behavioral office in August, 1991. The President-Elect will then serve Pharmacology Society, Society of Behavioral Medicine. as President in 1992-93 and as Past-President in 1993-94. Service positions: Treasurer, APA Division 28; Grant re- Members-at-large, whose job is to represent the general viewing for NIDA and other agencies; Editorial consultant: membership at Executive Committee meetings serve for J. Applied Behav. Anal., J. Consult. Clin. Psychol, Drug and three-year terms. Profiles of the candidates are presented Alcohol Dependence, Psychopharmacology; National below. Academy of Science Substance Abuse Coverage Commit- tee. Platform: The recent division name change to Psy- President-Elect chopharmacology and Substance Abuse has emphasized our central role within APA as the substance abuse re- LEWIS SEIDEN. Education: Ph.D. in psychology and search division. More APA members, particularly those biochemistry, University of Chicago, 1962. Research inter- with interests in substance abuse treatment and research, ests: relationship among monoamines, behavior, and drug need to know about us. The recent name change forms an action; application of computer technology to the analysis excellent starting point for attracting new members and of electrophysiological and behavioral data; neuro- and forming new coalitions. I would plan to work toward psychopharmacology of antidepressant drugs and of strengthening the representation of clinical addictions amphetamine and related phenethylamines that have toxic researchers within Division 28 and promoting coalitions effects on the central nervous system. Current position: with existing groups of clinical addictions researchers both Professor of Physiological and Pharmacological Sciences, within and outside APA. Because of my ties to the sub- Psychiatry, University of Chicago. Memberships: APA stance abuse treatment research committee, I feel I could (Fellow, Division 28), American Association for the Ad- effectively lead this initiative. vancement of Science (Fellow), American College of Neuropharmacology (Fellow), New York Academy of Sciences, Society of Biological Psychiatry, American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics; Service JOHN GRABOWSKI. Education: Ph.D. in Psychology, positions: NIDA, Drug Abuse Biomedical Research University of Minnesota, 1970. Research interests: Behav- Review Committee: Biochemistry Research Subcommit- ioral Pharmacology: human laboratory research/anteced- tee; NIMH, Neuropsychology Research Review Subcom- ents and correlates of drug taking, clinical research-behav- mittee of the Basic Psychopharmacology and Neuropsy- ioral-pharmacological treatments for drug abuse; collateral chology Research Review Committee; Merit Review Board services and treatment compliance HIV, TB; HIV and TB in Neurobiology, Veterans Administration; Research Scien- prevalence; Policy: drug screening, availability of therapeu- tist Development Review Committee. Platform: 1) A tic and non-therapeutic drugs, HIV screening/confidentiali- primary issue is the continuing change in the field, and the ty, protection of human subjects. Current position: Direc- need to encourage our students to become educated in tor, Substance Abuse Research Center, University of Texas recent advances in molecular biology, computer technology, Health Science Center; Associate Professor, Psychiatry and etc. 2) Division 28 needs to move rapidly to form a sub- Behavioral Sciences, UTHSC; Director, Center for the committee to study the question of clinical psychologists Study of Drugs in Society-Health Policy Institute, UTHSC. writing prescriptions for psychotropic drugs, so that sensible Appointments in School of Public Health and M.D. Ander- decisions regarding the long and short range role of psy- son Center (Dept. of Cancer Prevention). Memberships: chologists can be made. 3) Animal regulations as spurred APA (fellow), APS (fellow), AABT, SBM, BPS, ABA, on by animal-welfare activists will continue to be an issue AAAS. Service positions: Executive Committee, Division and one in which we must certainly play a key role. 4) The 28, APA (1985-1991); Council of Representatives, APA relationship of Division 28 to other Divisions within APA (1987-1990); Chair, Task Force on Drug Abuse-Science and to the APA Scientific Directorate will also be crucial in Director, APA (1987); Chair, Task Force, on Drug Abuse- order to ensure that APA remains a viable scientific and Practice Director, APA (1991); Member reviewer, Clinical clinical organization. and Behavioral Review Committee, NIDA; ad hoc review- er, contracts and SBIR, NIDA, ad hoc reviewer, treatment MAXINE STITZER. Education: Ph.D. in Psychopharma- grants, OTI-ADAMHA; external reviewer, Am. J. Pub. cology, University of Michigan, 1971. Research interests: