Does Drug Promotion Adversely Influence Doctors' Abilities to Make the Best Decisions for Patients?

Abstract

Aim: To increase awareness amongst psychiatrists and trainees of the effects of pharmaceutical promotion and to stimulate careful evaluation of the relationships between psychiatry and the pharmaceutical industry. Method: Key findings from the literature and from 20 years experience with the Medical Lobby for Appropriate Marketing are summarised. Results: The relationship between doctors and pharmaceutical companies is shown to be problematic in a way that might negatively impact on patient care. Conclusions: Patients may benefit if individual psychiatrists, and the profession as a whole, develop more healthy scepticism about the harm to benefit ratios of relationships with the pharmaceutical industry.