Psychopharmacological drugs as represented in the press: results of systematic analysis of newspapers and popular magazines.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Georg Thieme Verlag Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 8402938 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0176-3679 (Print) Linking ISSN: 01763679 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Pharmacopsychiatry Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: Stuttgart : Georg Thieme Verlag
      Original Publication: Stuttgart ; New York : Thieme, [c1984-
    • Subject Terms:
      Mass Media* ; Newspapers as Topic*; Psychotropic Drugs/*adverse effects ; Psychotropic Drugs/*therapeutic use; Cardiovascular Agents/adverse effects ; Cardiovascular Agents/therapeutic use ; Germany ; Public Opinion
    • Abstract:
      The representation of mental diseases and psychopharmacological drugs in the media, especially in the press, is thought to be of great impact on people's opinions on the subject. During the course of one year, all articles about psychopharmacological drugs and cardiac drugs published in nineteen German newspapers were collected. All statements, together with related aspects, reasons for prescription, individual details of the patient, effects and side-effects, were registered and classified according to a key. The results show that, in contrast to 13% of the articles about cardiac drugs, half of the reports about psychopharmacological drugs deal primarily with the problems of side-effects and dependence the drugs may produce. There was much more critical comment and emotional emphasis used to characterize the psychopharmacological drugs. Only in 9% of articles was their therapeutic efficacy mentioned. Cardiac drugs are generally discussed objectively in a medical context and in 53% efficacy is emphasized. Psychopharmacological drugs are often mentioned in stories about prominent persons having a life crisis, taking drugs, turning to alcoholism, or in the context of social decline. Only in 3% of all articles about psychopharmacological drugs was it possible to identify a serious mental disease as the reason for prescription. The reasons for and implications of these findings, which mainly reflect the negatively biased image of psychopharmacological drugs in women's magazines (while they are treated relatively fairly in general newspapers) are discussed.
    • Accession Number:
      0 (Cardiovascular Agents)
      0 (Psychotropic Drugs)
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 19960301 Date Completed: 19961004 Latest Revision: 20151119
    • Publication Date:
      20231215
    • Accession Number:
      10.1055/s-2007-979547
    • Accession Number:
      8741024