American Psychiatric Association Criticizes Tom Cruise Over Drug Comments  6/28/05

Tom Cruise has been further criticized for slamming the consumption of drugs used to treat depression during a recent US TV interview - by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

The mental health organization has accused the War of the Worlds star of behaving irresponsibly for labeling anti-depressant drugs a "pseudo science"

during a chat with American TV newsman Matt Lauer on the Today show last week (ends 24JUN05).

In a statement, the APA says: "It was irresponsible for Mr Cruise to use his movie publicity tour to promote his own ideological views... (and) deter people with mental illness from getting the help they need.

"Rigorous, published, peer-reviewed research clearly demonstrates that treatment (of mental illness) works.

"It is unfortunate that in the face of this remarkable scientific and clinical progress that a small number of individuals and groups persist in questioning its legitimacy."

Cruise has also recently blasted actress Brooke Shields for using anti-depressants.