ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the links between the pharmaceutical industry and professional organisations in psychiatry. It aims to assess the ways in which pharmaceutical companies influence prescribing practices at an organisational and individual level. The chapter considers the illegal practices of the pharmaceutical industry in promoting the prescription of medication to treat mental health problems. The American Journal of Psychiatry featured numerous lucrative advertisements for psychopharmaceutical products, and the industry also funded American Psychiatric Association conferences, social events, individual talks, grants, public awareness initiatives, fellowships for young psychiatrists and even political lobbying initiatives. In addition to influencing prescribing practice by direct contact with the profession and individual psychiatrists, the pharmaceutical industry has also manipulated demand for their products by more indirect means, such as in the funding of public awareness initiatives. The chapter presents a number of important issues relating to the practices of the pharmaceutical industry.
