This New York Times article is worth a read. Regardless of how one feels about antidepressants, it's important to understand the factors that may influence which medication a psychiatrist recommends. Unfortunately, the reality is that the key factor isn't always (or maybe even often) how well the medication performs.

There is a growing list of stories of this nature - a certain medication being pushed because it's more profitable, without solid data to show that it actually *performs* better. How do we fight back? Do your research. There's a lot of information out there on the Internet, and while a fair amount of it is propaganda for one side or another, a little time and energy will help you wade through the garbage. Also, don't hesitate to ask your psychiatrist or PCP why they are recommending a particular medication.

Tags: psychopharmacology, big pharma, marketing