Tom Cruise Got Mocked For Calling Out Big Pharma in 2005—Now the Data’s Catching Up [WATCH]

Nearly two decades after actor Tom Cruise made headlines for criticizing antidepressants and calling psychiatry a “pseudoscience” during an interview on NBC’s Today show, new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is prompting renewed attention to his controversial comments.

In 2005, Cruise’s remarks were widely dismissed.

But with depression diagnoses and antidepressant use now at historic levels—particularly among younger Americans—his statements are being reconsidered by some in light of ongoing debates over mental health treatment in the United States.

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According to the CDC’s latest data, 17.8 percent of Americans were diagnosed with depression in 2023, up from 5.4 percent in 2005.

At the same time, 11 percent of Americans were taking antidepressant medication last year.

Although that overall number has declined slightly, usage among young adults between 18 and 24 years old has increased by 35 percent from 2018 to 2023.

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Cruise, a long-time opponent of psychiatric drugs, warned in his 2005 interview of what he believed was a growing reliance on pharmaceutical solutions for complex mental health problems.

“All antidepressants do is mask the problem. You’re not getting to the reason why,” Cruise said.

“There is no such thing as a chemical imbalance.”

He went on to challenge the chemical imbalance theory directly: “If you start talking about chemical imbalance, you have to evaluate and read the research papers on how they came up with these theories of chemical imbalance in the brain. There is no science behind it.”

The chemical imbalance theory first emerged in the 1950s after observations that certain drugs, originally developed for other purposes, appeared to improve mood.

However, in recent years, many mental health professionals have criticized the theory as overly simplistic, pointing instead to a range of factors that can contribute to depression, including genetics, life circumstances, trauma, stress, and brain structure.

Dr. Sarah Boss, a psychiatrist in New York City, echoed some of Cruise’s concerns in a recent interview with DailyMail.com.

“When we medicate a condition, whether it be ADHD or depression, we put a band-aid over a wound,” Dr. Boss said.

“Without the medication, nothing has changed. When it comes to mental health, we need to focus on sustainable, long-term solutions.”

Although medication remains a core component of psychiatric treatment, it is typically prescribed alongside therapy, especially for moderate to severe depression.

But due to access issues and cost, many patients receive prescriptions without accompanying talk therapy.

Despite these concerns, antidepressants like SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) have been found effective in numerous studies.

A 2018 meta-analysis of 21 antidepressants found that all performed better than a placebo in treating major depression in adults. For instance, sertraline (Zoloft) showed a 72 percent response rate compared to 32 percent for a placebo in one clinical trial.

Other studies have demonstrated similar results with drugs like Celexa (citalopram), particularly in doses between 20 and 60 mg.

Still, side effects have raised red flags. SSRIs can cause sexual dysfunction, weight gain, insomnia, nausea, and emotional numbness.

Some patients report feeling emotionally detached or less responsive to life experiences.

Cruise also criticized the treatment of ADHD in the same 2005 interview, alleging overdiagnosis and excessive use of drugs like Ritalin and Adderall.

I know he’s a Scientologist but are we ready to admit Tom Cruise was right all along? pic.twitter.com/aQd7P7iwpg

— Doc Anarchy | Renegade Health Mag (@DoctorAnarchist) February 20, 2025

His comments came as ADHD diagnoses and stimulant prescriptions were climbing, particularly among children.

In recent years, approximately 1 in 10 school-aged children in the U.S. have been prescribed ADHD medications.

Antidepressant prescriptions among children and teens have also spiked.

A 2023 study published in Pediatrics found that monthly antidepressant dispensing rates increased by 66.3 percent between January 2016 and December 2022, with a further 63.5 percent jump after March 2020.

In the U.S., adult women remain more likely to take antidepressants than men—15 percent compared to 7 percent.

Usage is lowest among adults aged 18–44, though the rate has steadily risen in recent years.

Cruise’s comments from nearly 20 years ago have resurfaced on social media in recent months, viewed millions of times.

As questions about the long-term efficacy and ethics of psychiatric medication continue, his remarks are once again sparking debate.

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