Follow MediaCurves™:
Share This Story:
Send This Study to a Friend
Bookmark this page
Digg
Share on Facebook
LinkedIn

Physicians Say No to DTC Advertising for Medications that Treat Mental Disorders


Majority of physicians believe proposed changes to DSM will have positive impact on treatment

Flemington, NJ, February 17, 2010 – A new media study among 612 physicians revealed that the majority of physicians (60%) indicated that drug companies should not be allowed to advertise medications that treat mental illnesses on television.

The study was conducted during February 16-17 by HCD Research using its MediaCurves.com® website, to obtain viewers’ perceptions of physicians regarding mental health care. To view detailed results go to: www.mediacurves.com.

After reading a summary of the proposed changes to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the majority of physicians (54%) reported that the proposed changes would have a positive impact on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. In addition, the majority of physicians (56%) reported that they do not think mental disorders are over-diagnosed in the United States.

Among the findings:

Do you think drug companies should be able to advertise for medications that treat mental illnesses (such as depression, anxiety, etc.) on television?

 

Total

Yes

40%

No

60%

After reading these proposed changes to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), do you think these changes will impact the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness?

 

Total

Yes, Positive Impact

54%

Yes, Negative Impact

16%

No, No impact

31%

Do you feel that, overall, mental disorders are over-diagnosed in the United States?

 

Total

Yes

44%

No

56%

Editors/Reporters: For more information on the study, or to speak with Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research, please contact Vince McGourty, HCD Research, at (908) 483-9121 or (vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net).  You can also receive updates from MediaCurves.com by following us on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/mediacurves and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flemington-NJ/MediaCurves/86691908820

HCD Research is a marketing and communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ.  The company's services include traditional and web-based research.  For additional information on HCD Research, access the company’s web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393.  MediaCurves.com® (www.mediacurves.com) is a media measurement website that provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.

COMMENTS
Reply Send This Thread to a Friend

RE: Diagnosing Mental Health
by (Anonymous User) on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 @ 4:42:37 PM (#5003)
The treatments for the disease is greatly influenced by the HMOs. The doctors are already just a scribe with respect to treatment. Medicine as I once knew it is clearly over!!!
Reply
RE: Diagnosing Mental Health
by (Anonymous User) on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 @ 4:42:37 PM (#5004)
Psychiatry has way too many labels for people and there is too much hair splitting in making a diagnosis. The simplier they make it the better it will be to classify patients for those of us in primary care. The way it is now the It really makes no difference in treatment as that has to be adjusted anyway depending on the patients reaction to the medicine. Psychiatrists are the only ones that use DSM3 criteria as it is too confusing for the rest of us and I don't see that it really makes a difference in treatment.
Reply
RE: Diagnosing Mental Health
by (Anonymous User) on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 @ 4:42:37 PM (#5005)
That was an informative study and I hope those changes become real
Reply
RE: Diagnosing Mental Health
by (Anonymous User) on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 @ 4:42:37 PM (#5006)
The biggest problem with 'grouping' diagnoses is that it gives less weight to rare (possibly genetically treatable) illness and decreases the funding to these unique entities. The second problem is that it will give greater donations and insurance money to certain diseases such as autism. Parents will know to 'request' an autism diagnosis so that they can get the 'guaranteed' insurance monies (up to $76,000 per year in some states and plans) thus increasing the cost of care for many children with 'autism spectrum' disorders. I believe that these 'blending of diagnoses' in the new DSM is simply a measure in finances.
Reply