Advertising Medication, Media, and the Influence of Self-Diagnosis of Psychiatric Illness

Your analysis essay must be double-spaced, 250 – 500 words, and contain at least two in-text citations from the assigned article, demonstrating that you understand the material. This formal essay should be grammatically correct without spelling or other writing errors.

Topic: Advertising Medication, Media, and the Influence of Self-Diagnosis of Psychiatric Illness: Better Living Through Chemistry? Could advertising for psychiatric medication increase the likelihood of self-diagnosis? How might this impact the labeling of mental illness as deviant?

Background:

 “In late 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new guidelines that allowed pharmaceutical companies to air prescription drug ads on television. These guidelines have expanded the pharmaceutical industry’s role as one of the major “engines” of medicalization. One arena in which there has been a dramatic increase in direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of pharmaceuticals is the marketing of psychotherapeutic drugs, especially for depression. Because medicalization is thought to reduce blame and stigma attached to deviant conditions such as mental illness, the rise of DTCA for depression drugs may alter public conceptions of mental illness in general and of depression specifically.” (Payton and Thoits, linked article.)

Direct-to-consumer advertising of psychotropic medications has created controversy. The concern rests on self-diagnosis, increased frequency of prescriptions and consumer and physician behavior. In the article by Donohue and Berndt, researchers look at the impact of marketing on the choice of antidepressant drugs. In the Rubin excerpt, the author focuses specifally on media messages about psychotropic drugs and provides some research data on the influence of television. Neuroleptics (antipsychotic medications used to treat the positive symptoms associated with schizophrenia) are marketed directly to consumers as an “add-on” medication for antidepressant users. Abilify is an example. They are a dopamine antagonist and can have severe permanent side effects, including akinesia, tardive dyskinesia, and Parkinson’s disease.

ASSIGNED MATERIALS:

Three short articles are required for this assignment, along with the Unit 6 materials. I have also provided a few quick video links addressing advertising budgets and the medicalization of illnesses. 

• “Direct-to-Consumer Drug Advertisement and Prescribing Practices: Evidence Review and Practical Guidance for Clinicians.” By Franquiz and McGuire, 
• ‘I’d rather not take Prozac’: stigma and commodification in antidepressant consumer narratives.” By Regina Smardon

  , 

• Effects of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising on Medication Choice: The Case of Antidepressants by Julie M. Donohue and Ernst R. Berndt.

• 3 minute video: Ex-Pharmaceutical Rep: Billions Spent on Drug Ads http://vimeo.com/7688263Links to an external site.
  • • Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau is a former 10-year Pharma Sales Rep and writer/director of the feature film “Side Effects” starring Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy). In this video, she discusses the billion-dollar psycho/pharmaceutical marketing campaign designed to get millions of people on psychotropic drugs through slick drug ads and marketing campaigns that include ghostwriting pro-drug articles for medical journals.
• 1 minute video: Antidepressant Drug Spoof: Tripolar Disorder http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8eS8BZdC1oLinks to an external site.
  • • This video is a parody antidepressant drug commercial, but FDA-documented side effects of antidepressants are real. Citizens Commission on Human Rights International – visit http://www.cchrint.org/psychdrugdangersLinks to an external site.

Grading Rubric for Sociology Essay on Advertising for Psychiatric Medication and Self-Diagnosis: 

Content / Argument (70%): 

• The essay demonstrates a thorough understanding of the assigned course materials and their relevance to the topic. (20%) 
• The essay effectively addresses questions (1) and (2) clearly and coherently. (30%) 
• The essay presents a well-reasoned argument supported by evidence from the assigned course materials and at least two in-text citations. (20%) 

Writing (20%): 

• The essay is well-written, free of grammatical errors, and demonstrates a command of academic writing conventions. (10%) 
• The essay is structured logically and organized, with clear and concise paragraphs that develop and support the thesis. (10%) 

Citation and Referencing (10%): 

• The essay includes in-text citations from the assigned course materials and correctly formatted references at the end of the essay. (5%) 
• The essay correctly uses APA or MLA style for in-text citations and references. (5%) 

Total: 100%