Publication bias is “the tendency of researchers, reviewers, and editors to submit or accept manuscripts for publication based on the focus or strength of the study's findings » (Dickersin, 1990). It is also called the “drawer effect” because it is taught that unpublished results placed in filing cabinets by researchers could result in an invalid meta-analysis of that research (Scargle, 1999). Numerous studies confirm that publication bias is a serious problem, such as the study by researchers at the University of Oregon Health and Science that examined the approval process for 12 separate antidepressants submitted to the FDA ( Turner, 2008). They found that only 3/36 leads with negative results were published, compared to 37/38 of the positive leads. The publication of negative results is essential for interpreting the overall importance of the research area and this problem must be addressed. There are many concerns about publication bias. Research becomes less innovative and its neutrality decreases. Well-conducted studies may be unnecessarily repeated due to higher underreporting of negative studies. Analyzes of published data have become increasingly skewed by this imbalance in reporting. This wastes valuable time, resources and funds that could be used for other beneficial research. Another concern is that physicians may make costly health decisions due to overestimation of benefits and underestimation of harms caused by unpublished negative results. The famous cover-up of the negative effects of the anti-inflammatory drug rofecoxib (Vioxx) is an example of how hiding negative results can harm patients (Curfman, 2005). Rofecoxib has been prescribed to 80 million people. After 5 years, it was revealed that the founding company, Merck,...... middle of paper ......formation." Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act (FDAAA) of 2007. FDA, December 2, 2011 . Web. November 23, 2013. Scargle, Jeffrey D. “Publication Bias (the “File Drawer Problem”) in Scientific Inference” Preprint Physics arXiv/9909033 (1999). Yoon K. Loke. “Publication bias: what is it? How do we measure it? How to avoid it? » Dovepress Journal, July 2013. Web. November 23, 2013. Turner, Erick H., et al. “Selective publication of antidepressant trials and its influence on apparent effectiveness.” » New England Journal of Medicine 358.3 (2008): 252-260. Watkins, Tom. “The documents indicate that the company knew of a possible suicide risk from Prozac. » CNN Cable News Network, January 3, 2005. Web, November 23, 2013. Wood, Susan F. and Kristen L. Perosino. “Increasing Transparency at the FDA: The Impact of the FDA Amendments Act of 2007.” Public Health Reports.123.4 (2008): 527.