The effects of direct-to-consumer antidepressent advertising on doctor-patient relationships

• Main Author: Soya, Christine
• Language: en_US
• Published: Boston University 2015
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/2144/12638

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at [e-mail]. Thank you. === Objective: This qualitative study looks at how doctors and patients feel direct-to-consumer antidepressant advertising affects the doctor-patient relationship. Methods and Results: I conducted open-ended interviews with eight primary care physicians to understand their feelings about direct-to-consumer antidepressant advertising. I performed a content analysis of eight antidepressant and antidepressant add-on advertisements available on YouTube. I also collected and analyzed comments for each YouTube ad to represent the general public's opinions. Using an ethnomedical framework, I looked at the many factors surrounding direct-to-consumer antidepressant advertising including: the object of concern (depression), the social practice of advertising, patients' cultural specific concerns, doctors' values, and managed care organizations (the institutional level). Conclusions: My study points to both physician and societal perceptions of the current practice of direct-to-consumer antidepressant advertising, and its perceived risks or benefits to the doctor-patient relationship.