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Professional NewsFull Access

What Do Physicians Think?

Published Online:19 Mar 2010https://doi.org/10.1176/pn.45.6.psychnews_45_6_011

The results of an online survey indicate physicians' strong disapproval of direct-to-consumer TV advertisement for psychotropic medications.

The survey was conducted and funded by HCD Research, a marketing research firm based in Flemington, N.J. The survey sample was drawn from the company's database of physicians across the United States, Vince McGourty, a company spokesperson, told Psychiatric News. A total of 612 physicians responded to the online survey, of whom 47 were psychiatrists. The survey was conducted in mid February via HCD Research's Web site.

To the question “Do you think drug companies should be able to advertise for medications that treat mental illnesses (such as depression, anxiety, etc.) on television?,” 60 percent of the respondents answered “no” and 40 percent answered “yes.”

The online survey asked the physicians two additional questions about mental illness treatment. One question asked whether they believe that mental disorders are overdiagnosed in the United States. Slightly over half (56 percent) of the respondents said they did not believe that to be the case.

In addition, after being presented with a summary of some of the changes proposed for the next edition of APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), 54 percent said that the proposed changes to the diagnostic criteria would have a positive impact on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses, while 16 percent thought that the changes would have a negative impact, and 31 percent felt the changes would have no impact.