APA, Pharma's Relationship

I am writing to express strong support for the views expressed by Stefan Kruszewski, M.D., in his letter to the editor in the August 15 Psychiatric News. I believe that the pharmaceutical industry has intruded itself into our professional publications, meetings, and practice to the extent of raising questions in the mind of the public, and, it is hoped, our own, regarding our professional integrity. How can we not be unduly influenced by the drug companies, given our financial obligations to them? Has there not already occurred an undue shift toward drugs as the central focus of psychiatry?

The fact that other medical specialties are also similarly linked to the drug industry is no comfort whatsoever. It is psychiatry that should guard the integrity of the doctor-patient relationship.

I feel that the corrosive effect on psychiatry from receiving monies from pharmaceutical companies is the primary ethical issue facing our profession at this time.