Doctors used big pharma-created guidelines that increased the likelihood of a depression diagnosis, as a result, more people were diagnosed with depression and prescribed antidepressant drugs. There is evidence to suggest that over-reliance on a questionnaire developed by a team with financial ties with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, the manufacturer of one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs, led to overdiagnosis and subsequently over prescription of psychiatric drugs.

The PHQ-9 questionnaire was developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke, and colleagues in 1999. It is important to note that Dr. Spitzer had financial ties to Pfizer, the manufacturer of Zoloft.

Experts have said the PHQ-9 questionnaire can lead to overdiagnosis and over-prescription of antidepressant drugs. There is increasing skepticism in the medical community, questioning the legitimacy of the questionnaire and discouraging their peers from using it to diagnose depression.

While there is no direct evidence of undue influence on the development of the questionnaire, the potential for conflicts of interest cannot be ignored. If it were a tool marketed as a way to help doctors diagnose their patients, while actually being a way for the corporation to boost sales of their medication, it proved effective.

Even if it were not intentional, the over reliance on this questionnaire in place of proper diagnosis is a particular concern in primary care settings where healthcare professionals may have limited time to conduct a thorough evaluation and clinical assessment.

The revelation of this scandal has led to outrage from some people who feel they were improperly prescribed psychiatric medication. Many are calling for greater accountability and transparency in the healthcare industry.

Depression is a serious mental health condition that requires accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The pharmaceutical industry has a history of engaging in unethical practices, including the manipulation of clinical trial data with dangerous consequences for the unwitting people who take their drugs. While the industry has also developed important medications that have saved lives, the profit motive can lead to a focus on financial gain over patient well-being.

Cropped photo by Jonathan Rolande is licensed under CC BY 2.0