Acknowledgement of psychiatric research funding.

Acknowledgement of research funding is vital for the identification of potential vital for the identification of potential conflicts of interest and for monitoring conflicts of interest and for monitoring research output by funding agencies, but research output by funding agencies, but the extent to which such acknowledge-the extent to which such acknowledgements are made in psychiatric journals has ments are made in psychiatric journals has not been studied. not been studied. There is evidence that interpretation of There is evidence that interpretation of evidence can differ according to whether a evidence can differ according to whether a conflict of interest is present on the part conflict of interest is present on the part Readers' interpretations may also 2000). Readers' interpretations may also differ according to whether they are aware differ according to whether they are aware of such a conflict (Chaudhry of such a conflict (Chaudhry et al et al, 2002). , 2002). Concern on the part of editors about failure Concern on the part of editors about failure to disclose competing interests has led to disclose competing interests has led to the adoption of policies on disclosure to the adoption of policies on disclosure by many journals, including the by many journals, including the British British Journal of Psychiatry Journal of Psychiatry. However, evi-. However, evidence from a survey of five journals dence from a survey of five journals (Hussain & Smith, 2001) suggests that (Hussain & Smith, 2001) suggests that progress in implementing these policies progress in implementing these policies is slow. is slow. Assessment of the quality of scientific Assessment of the quality of scientific research is regarded increasingly as an research is regarded increasingly as an important issue, especially for funding important issue, especially for funding agencies that are paying closer scrutiny to agencies that are paying closer scrutiny to their budgets and to publications resulting their budgets and to publications resulting from their support (Lewison from their support (Lewison et al et al, 1995). , 1995). The main funding sectors for UK bio-The main funding sectors for UK bio-medical research are the UK government, medical research are the UK government, UK private non-profit organisations, and UK private non-profit organisations, and industry (Dawson industry (Dawson et al et al, 1998). Such , 1998). Such funding bodies are using bibliographic funding bodies are using bibliographic databases to monitor their output. The databases to monitor their output. The …