-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DS3k9TQK8AD/hM1h/m6CPlWzC++9IobkSTy3QRLOwckezVhGfgd3x6apAxkOP03j
 tLQ/mKOExGomVVHgYJef3Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-10-051135.txt : 20101223
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-10-051135.hdr.sgml : 20101223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101223102625
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-10-051135
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101221
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101223
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Lurker Nancy
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001450485

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24249
		FILM NUMBER:		101271024

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PDI, INC.
		STREET 2:		1 ROUTE 17 SOUTH
		CITY:			SADDLE RIVER
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07458

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PDI INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001054102
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				222919486
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MORRIS CORPORATE CENTER 1, BUILDING A
		STREET 2:		300 INTERPACE PARKWAY
		CITY:			PARSIPPANY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07054
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8622077800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MORRIS CORPORATE CENTER 1, BUILDING A
		STREET 2:		300 INTERPACE PARKWAY
		CITY:			PARSIPPANY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07054

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PROFESSIONAL DETAILING INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980129
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001054102</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PDI INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PDII</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001450485</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lurker Nancy</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PDI INC., MORRIS CORPORATE CENTER 1,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>BUILDING A, 300 INTERPACE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PARSIPPANY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07054</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>193698</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9107</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.98</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>202805</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.28</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-11-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>280000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>280000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-03-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>88353</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>368353</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 56,000 restricted stock units that vest one-half on each of 11/18/11 and 11/18/12 and 43,738 restricted stock units that vest on March 1, 2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted stock that vests one-third on the date of grant and one-third on each of 12/21/2011 and 12/21/2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Performance contingent stock appreciation rights (&quot;SARs&quot;). The SARs are 60% vested and the remaining 40% vest one-half on each of 11/18/11 and 11/18/12.  The SARs are only exercisable if the performance conditions are met.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Stock appreciation rights that vest one-third on each of 3/1/11, 3/1/12, and 3/1/13.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nancy S. Lurker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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