Definition
Disease mongering is the practice of promoting the expansion of the diagnostic boundaries of a medical condition, or the creation of new disease categories, primarily to increase the market for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, or other health‑related products and services.
Overview
The concept has been discussed in medical, ethical, and consumer‑advocacy literature since the late 20th century. Proponents argue that disease mongering can raise awareness of previously under‑diagnosed conditions and stimulate research and treatment development. Critics contend that it may lead to overdiagnosis, overtreatment, unnecessary medicalization of normal life variations, and increased healthcare costs. The term is often invoked in debates over direct‑to‑consumer advertising, industry‑funded clinical research, and the role of professional societies in defining disease criteria.
Etymology/Origin
The phrase combines “disease,” referring to a pathological condition, with “mongering,” derived from the verb “to monger,” meaning to trade or peddle something, especially with a negative connotation of profit‑driven promotion. The term gained prominence through a series of articles and editorials in medical journals and newspapers in the 1990s, notably a 1996 editorial in The BMJ titled “Disease mongering: The commercialization of disease.”
Characteristics
Typical features associated with disease mongering include:
- Broadening diagnostic criteria: Redefining existing conditions to encompass milder symptoms or risk factors.
- Creation of new disease entities: Introducing novel diagnostic labels for sets of symptoms not previously classified as a distinct disease.
- Aggressive marketing: Utilizing direct‑to‑consumer advertising, sponsored medical education, and patient advocacy groups to disseminate information about the condition and its treatment.
- Influence on clinical guidelines: Participation of pharmaceutical representatives or industry‑funded researchers in the development of practice guidelines.
- Economic incentives: Emphasis on market expansion for drugs, devices, or diagnostic tests linked to the condition.
Related Topics
- Overdiagnosis
- Medicalization
- Direct‑to‑consumer advertising
- Pharmaceutical marketing
- Evidence‑based medicine
- Health economics
- Patient advocacy (including industry‑sponsored groups)
Note: This entry reflects currently available information from peer‑reviewed literature, reputable medical journals, and recognized health policy analyses.