The late Loren Mosher — psychiatrist and former Chief of NIMH’s Center for Studies of Schizophrenia — in his 1998 resignation letter to the American Psychiatric Association (APA):
“Unfortunately, APA reflects, and reinforces, in word and deed, our drug dependent society… This is not a group for me. At this point in history, in my view, psychiatry has been almost completely bought out by the drug companies. The APA could not continue without the pharmaceutical company support of meetings, symposia, workshops, journal advertising, grand rounds luncheons, unrestricted educational grants etc. etc. Psychiatrists have become the minions of drug company promotions.
"APA, of course, maintains that its independence and autonomy are not compromised in this enmeshed situation.
“Anyone with the least bit of common sense attending the annual meeting would observe how the drug company exhibits and industry sponsored symposia draw crowds with their various enticements while the serious scientific sessions are barely attended. Psychiatric training reflects their influence as well; i.e., the most important part of a resident curriculum is the art and quasi-science of dealing drugs, i.e., prescription writing.
“These psychopharmacological limitations on our abilities to be complete physicians also limit our intellectual horizons. No longer do we seek to understand whole persons in their social contexts rather we are there to realign our patients' neurotransmitters. The problem is that it is very difficult to have a relationship with a neurotransmitter whatever its configuration…
“…We condone and promote the widespread overuse and misuse of toxic chemicals that we know have serious long term effects: tardive dyskinesia, tardive dementia and serious withdrawal syndromes. So, do I want to be a drug company patsy who treats molecules with their formulary? No, thank you very much.”
As Chief of NIMH’s Center for Studies of Schizophrenia, Mosher promoted drug-free schizophrenia treatment through his Soteria Project, which housed patients in supportive, home-like environments with non-professional staff emphasizing interpersonal care instead of antipsychotic drugs.
He was dismissed from his position as chief of the Center for Studies of Schizophrenia at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in 1980, largely because of his strong advocacy for the drug-free Soteria Project and his vocal criticism of the increasing reliance on antipsychotics.