Martin Plöderl
@ploederl.bsky.social
Clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, part-time researcher with a focus on suicide prevention and psychopharmacology.
https://ploederlm.github.io/publications/
https://scholar.google.at/citations?user=76cO6AEAAAAJ&hl=de
Nature, espresso, cycling.
https://ploederlm.github.io/publications/
https://scholar.google.at/citations?user=76cO6AEAAAAJ&hl=de
Nature, espresso, cycling.
Pinned
Martin Plöderl
@ploederl.bsky.social
· Nov 21
Paper now published in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology.
Longer thread below!
www.jclinepi.com/article/S089...
@markhoro.bsky.social @joannamoncrieff.bsky.social @richlyus.bsky.social @floriannaudet.bsky.social
Longer thread below!
www.jclinepi.com/article/S089...
@markhoro.bsky.social @joannamoncrieff.bsky.social @richlyus.bsky.social @floriannaudet.bsky.social
Nominating the "bio-babble of the month" is indeed a good idea by @mad-in-america.bsky.social
There would of course be sufficient material to make it a weekly award 🙃
There would of course be sufficient material to make it a weekly award 🙃
Psychobabble of the Month: ECT Hailed as Method to Gain Consent for Forced Drug Treatment
Psychiatrists forced a woman to undergo dozens of electroshock sessions until she finally agreed to take clozapine. They framed this as "restoring" her "decision-making capacity."
Psychiatrists forced a woman to undergo dozens of electroshock sessions until she finally agreed to take clozapine. They framed this as "restoring" her "decision-making capacity."
Psychobabble of the Month: ECT Hailed as Method to Gain Consent for Forced Drug Treatment
Refusal to take clozapine was considered evidence of mental illness, and forced ECT changed her mind; the researchers call this "consent."
buff.ly
February 7, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Nominating the "bio-babble of the month" is indeed a good idea by @mad-in-america.bsky.social
There would of course be sufficient material to make it a weekly award 🙃
There would of course be sufficient material to make it a weekly award 🙃
Reposted by Martin Plöderl
A major new book urges a rethink of checklist diagnosis
My review @psychologytoday.com
#Medsky #psychiatry #overdiagnosis #polypharmacy
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/side...
My review @psychologytoday.com
#Medsky #psychiatry #overdiagnosis #polypharmacy
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/side...
Clinical Reasoning and the Debate Over Psychiatric Diagnosis
A new book urges a major rethink of checklist diagnoses in psychiatry.
www.psychologytoday.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:02 PM
A major new book urges a rethink of checklist diagnosis
My review @psychologytoday.com
#Medsky #psychiatry #overdiagnosis #polypharmacy
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/side...
My review @psychologytoday.com
#Medsky #psychiatry #overdiagnosis #polypharmacy
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/side...
Reposted by Martin Plöderl
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
(George Orwell: 1984)
„Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.“
(Philip K. Dick)
(George Orwell: 1984)
„Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.“
(Philip K. Dick)
January 27, 2026 at 7:08 AM
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
(George Orwell: 1984)
„Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.“
(Philip K. Dick)
(George Orwell: 1984)
„Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.“
(Philip K. Dick)
Sertraline is increasingly used in children and adolescents.
Here are results for the 2 RCTs on anxiety.
SMD 1.8 😯
Sorry, this is just too good to be true!
Thoughts?
@toshi-frkw.bsky.social
@joannamoncrieff.bsky.social
Here are results for the 2 RCTs on anxiety.
SMD 1.8 😯
Sorry, this is just too good to be true!
Thoughts?
@toshi-frkw.bsky.social
@joannamoncrieff.bsky.social
February 5, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Sertraline is increasingly used in children and adolescents.
Here are results for the 2 RCTs on anxiety.
SMD 1.8 😯
Sorry, this is just too good to be true!
Thoughts?
@toshi-frkw.bsky.social
@joannamoncrieff.bsky.social
Here are results for the 2 RCTs on anxiety.
SMD 1.8 😯
Sorry, this is just too good to be true!
Thoughts?
@toshi-frkw.bsky.social
@joannamoncrieff.bsky.social
Reposted by Martin Plöderl
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
Sobering finding:
www.madinamerica.com/2026/02/none...
www.madinamerica.com/2026/02/none...
None of the 22 FDA Approvals for Psychiatric Drugs in the Last Decade Were “Clinically Useful”
Established drugs were repurposed, “me-too” drugs were approved, and even the few new biological approaches lacked clinical utility.
www.madinamerica.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Sobering finding:
www.madinamerica.com/2026/02/none...
www.madinamerica.com/2026/02/none...
1. Our response to a review by Le et al. on optimal dosing of ketamine, which was based on efficacy studies and neuroplasticity research, just came out (with @floriannaudet.bsky.social).
The review is here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
The review is here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Recommendations for repeated dosings of ketamine/esketamine rest on an uncertain evidence base. Response to
www.sciencedirect.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:58 AM
1. Our response to a review by Le et al. on optimal dosing of ketamine, which was based on efficacy studies and neuroplasticity research, just came out (with @floriannaudet.bsky.social).
The review is here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
The review is here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Martin Plöderl
Has anybody already done a study on publication success, experimentally varying the direction of the effect (fitting the narrative vs. inconvenient findings)?
January 31, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Has anybody already done a study on publication success, experimentally varying the direction of the effect (fitting the narrative vs. inconvenient findings)?
Reposted by Martin Plöderl
Wer jetzt noch bei Amazon kauft...
Amazon-Gründer Jeff Bezos hat ein geschätztes Vermögen von über 250 Milliarden (!) Dollar und eben 75 Millionen für ein Melania Trump-Werbevideo bezahlt.
Heute lässt er bei der Washington Post, einem der renommiertesten Medien der USA, 300 Journalist·innen kündigen, ein Drittel der Redaktion.
Heute lässt er bei der Washington Post, einem der renommiertesten Medien der USA, 300 Journalist·innen kündigen, ein Drittel der Redaktion.
Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post conducts widespread layoffs, gutting a third of its staff | CNN Business
The Washington Post laid off about one in three employees across the company Wednesday morning, dealing another big blow to a newsroom that has reached a breaking point.
www.cnn.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Wer jetzt noch bei Amazon kauft...
Study on depression treatment without a control group but authors say:
"Esketamine combined with dexmedetomidine improves symptoms in treatment-resistant depression." and
"...therapy is safe and shows sustained efficacy over a 6-month follow-up"
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
"Esketamine combined with dexmedetomidine improves symptoms in treatment-resistant depression." and
"...therapy is safe and shows sustained efficacy over a 6-month follow-up"
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Multimodal rapid anti-depression therapy: Esketamine combined with dexmedetomidine patient-controlled sleep for treatment-resistant depression — A retrospective study
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a multimodal rapid anti-depression therapy that combines esketamine treatment with dexmedetomidine patient-cont…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Study on depression treatment without a control group but authors say:
"Esketamine combined with dexmedetomidine improves symptoms in treatment-resistant depression." and
"...therapy is safe and shows sustained efficacy over a 6-month follow-up"
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
"Esketamine combined with dexmedetomidine improves symptoms in treatment-resistant depression." and
"...therapy is safe and shows sustained efficacy over a 6-month follow-up"
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Martin Plöderl
8.0% of citations in the medical literature contain major errors.
E.g., the cited work makes the opposite claim or is unrelated to the claim in the citing article.
E.g., the cited work makes the opposite claim or is unrelated to the claim in the citing article.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of quotation inaccuracy in medicine - Research Integrity and Peer Review
Background Quotations are crucial to science but have been shown to be often inaccurate. Quotation errors, that is, a reference not supporting the authors’ claim, may still be a significant issue in s...
link.springer.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:37 AM
8.0% of citations in the medical literature contain major errors.
E.g., the cited work makes the opposite claim or is unrelated to the claim in the citing article.
E.g., the cited work makes the opposite claim or is unrelated to the claim in the citing article.
Reposted by Martin Plöderl
striking results!
@scientificdiscovery.dev Hi, I am creating a new version of my free online MOOC, and would like to use this picture, of which you have the copyright. Is it ok if I put it in a slide?
February 2, 2026 at 6:54 AM
striking results!
Reposted by Martin Plöderl
Judging by the poor quality of biomarker research I see reported in biomedical journals, my article "How to Do Bad Biomarker Research" must have been hugely influential: www.fharrell.com/post/badb/in... #Statistics #StatsSky #EpiSky
How to Do Bad Biomarker Research – Statistical Thinking
This article covers some of the bad statistical practices that have crept into biomarker research, including setting the bar too low for demonstrating that biomarker information is new, believing that...
www.fharrell.com
January 23, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Judging by the poor quality of biomarker research I see reported in biomedical journals, my article "How to Do Bad Biomarker Research" must have been hugely influential: www.fharrell.com/post/badb/in... #Statistics #StatsSky #EpiSky
"Der Deutsche ist am Besten zwischen 0,6 und 1,2 Promille auszunehmen"
😂
Exzellentes Interview über die Schattenseite des Schi-Tourismus in Tirol
oe1.orf.at/player/20260...
😂
Exzellentes Interview über die Schattenseite des Schi-Tourismus in Tirol
oe1.orf.at/player/20260...
ORF-Radio
Das digitale Radioangebot des ORF. Alle öffentlich rechtlichen Radiosender Österreichs auf einer Plattform. Live und 7 Tage lang im Stream on Demand.
oe1.orf.at
February 1, 2026 at 4:49 PM
"Der Deutsche ist am Besten zwischen 0,6 und 1,2 Promille auszunehmen"
😂
Exzellentes Interview über die Schattenseite des Schi-Tourismus in Tirol
oe1.orf.at/player/20260...
😂
Exzellentes Interview über die Schattenseite des Schi-Tourismus in Tirol
oe1.orf.at/player/20260...
Interested in learning how a small zombie-trial "infected" the body of evidence for fluoxetine to treat depression in children and adolecents?
Tomorrow, 2. February, 2:00–3:30pm (UK)
With @richlyus.bsky.social and me as presenters (via Teams)
Free tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/bsms-researc...
Tomorrow, 2. February, 2:00–3:30pm (UK)
With @richlyus.bsky.social and me as presenters (via Teams)
Free tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/bsms-researc...
February 1, 2026 at 10:56 AM
Interested in learning how a small zombie-trial "infected" the body of evidence for fluoxetine to treat depression in children and adolecents?
Tomorrow, 2. February, 2:00–3:30pm (UK)
With @richlyus.bsky.social and me as presenters (via Teams)
Free tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/bsms-researc...
Tomorrow, 2. February, 2:00–3:30pm (UK)
With @richlyus.bsky.social and me as presenters (via Teams)
Free tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/bsms-researc...
Has anybody already done a study on publication success, experimentally varying the direction of the effect (fitting the narrative vs. inconvenient findings)?
January 31, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Has anybody already done a study on publication success, experimentally varying the direction of the effect (fitting the narrative vs. inconvenient findings)?
This is brilliant! 😂
Forget pickles and ice cream. I published a fake paper on pregnancy cravings for prime numbers.
Guest post: Forget pickles and ice cream. I published a fake paper on pregnancy cravings for prime numbers
Image generated by Google Gemini I had grown weary of the constant stream and abuse of spam invitations to submit manuscripts to journals and to attend fake conferences on the other side of the wor…
retractionwatch.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:25 PM
This is brilliant! 😂
Reposted by Martin Plöderl
Last year, we published an article analyzing the advocacy activities of the FondaMental Foundation around its “expert centers.” We documented repeated claims of a 50% reduction in hospitalizations, echoed in exchanges with members of parliament and incorporated into a draft law.
Advocacy by nonprofit scientific institutions needs to be evidence-based: a case study
Scientific institutions, including universities and research centers, occasionally engage in advocacy to gain financial support. However, this can be …
www.sciencedirect.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Last year, we published an article analyzing the advocacy activities of the FondaMental Foundation around its “expert centers.” We documented repeated claims of a 50% reduction in hospitalizations, echoed in exchanges with members of parliament and incorporated into a draft law.
Reposted by Martin Plöderl
It is rather beautiful here in Oulu 🇫🇮, right now. Absolutely no filters needed at all 🤌
-20°C, wind chill -28°C.
#Oulu #MeanwhileInOulu
-20°C, wind chill -28°C.
#Oulu #MeanwhileInOulu
January 30, 2026 at 4:18 PM
It is rather beautiful here in Oulu 🇫🇮, right now. Absolutely no filters needed at all 🤌
-20°C, wind chill -28°C.
#Oulu #MeanwhileInOulu
-20°C, wind chill -28°C.
#Oulu #MeanwhileInOulu
Reposted by Martin Plöderl
"dokumentieren die vielen schädlichen Auswirkungen, die psychiatrische Diagnosen auf Einzelpersonen und Gemeinschaften haben. Viele berichten von öffentlicher und verinnerlichter Stigmatisierung"
madindeutschland.org/psychiatrisc...
madindeutschland.org/psychiatrisc...
Psychiatrische Diagnosen schränken mehr ein, als dass sie Klarheit schaffen, argumentieren Forschende
Eine Open-Access-Studie von 2025 in Current Opinion in Psychology argumentiert, dass psychiatrische Diagnosen keine neutralen Beschreibungen von Leiden sind.
madindeutschland.org
January 26, 2026 at 9:51 AM
"dokumentieren die vielen schädlichen Auswirkungen, die psychiatrische Diagnosen auf Einzelpersonen und Gemeinschaften haben. Viele berichten von öffentlicher und verinnerlichter Stigmatisierung"
madindeutschland.org/psychiatrisc...
madindeutschland.org/psychiatrisc...
This is huge. In many ways.
This also fits my impression when doing a systematic review on ketamine and esketamine: studies from China, Iran, and India with results that seem just too good to be true.
This also fits my impression when doing a systematic review on ketamine and esketamine: studies from China, Iran, and India with results that seem just too good to be true.
“If fabricated studies make their way into the evidence base, they can mislead real scientists and ultimately slow progress for patients."
Published in The BMJ, a new AI tool developed by @aidybarnett.bsky.social and colleagues has exposed the scale of fake studies flooding cancer research.
Published in The BMJ, a new AI tool developed by @aidybarnett.bsky.social and colleagues has exposed the scale of fake studies flooding cancer research.
New tool exposes scale of fake research flooding cancer science
A new machine learning tool has identified more than 250,000 cancer research papers that may have been produced by so-called “paper mills”.
www.qut.edu.au
January 30, 2026 at 6:48 AM
This is huge. In many ways.
This also fits my impression when doing a systematic review on ketamine and esketamine: studies from China, Iran, and India with results that seem just too good to be true.
This also fits my impression when doing a systematic review on ketamine and esketamine: studies from China, Iran, and India with results that seem just too good to be true.
I remember times when ecological studies showing that increased antidepressant prescription rates were associated with decreasing suicide rates were praised in mainstream psychiatry as success of meds. Later, there was more silence bc the association reversed. This new paper breaks the silence a bit
Trend of antidepressant sales and suicide records in Brazil: a time series analysis, 2014–2021
Antidepressants are the first-line of treatments for major depression, but adverse effects may include self-harm. We aimed to investigate the associat…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:30 AM
I remember times when ecological studies showing that increased antidepressant prescription rates were associated with decreasing suicide rates were praised in mainstream psychiatry as success of meds. Later, there was more silence bc the association reversed. This new paper breaks the silence a bit
After rejecting our letter about serious problems in a study on psychotherapy vs. antidepressants we responded w the request for an integrity check (indep. of publication of our letter). The letter was then accepted and just published.
We'll still request integrity checks. Thanks for your help!
We'll still request integrity checks. Thanks for your help!
January 29, 2026 at 8:16 AM
After rejecting our letter about serious problems in a study on psychotherapy vs. antidepressants we responded w the request for an integrity check (indep. of publication of our letter). The letter was then accepted and just published.
We'll still request integrity checks. Thanks for your help!
We'll still request integrity checks. Thanks for your help!