Healthy Skepticism Library item: 13537

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Spielmans GI, Thielges SA, Dent AL, Greenberg RP.
The accuracy of psychiatric medication advertisements in medical journals.
J Nerv Ment Dis. 2008 Apr; 196:(4):267-73
http://meta.wkhealth.com/pt/pt-core/template-journal/lwwgateway/media/landingpage.htm?an=00005053-200804000-00002

Abstract:

Psychiatric medications are frequently advertised in medical journals, yet no study has addressed the veracity of claims made in these advertisements. The present study examined the accuracy of 69 medical journal advertisements for psychiatric medications and the availability of sources cited in these advertisements. Just over half of claims made in advertisements (50.2%) provided no attainable source that could be used to check the veracity of the claim. When sources were attained, they supported the cited claims 65% of the time (95% CI: 61.0-69.1). Claims regarding the efficacy of medications were only supported by obtained cited sources on 53.2% of occasions (95% CI: 46.2-60.2). Attempts to obtain cited data on file from sponsoring drug companies were rarely successful. Given the relatively poor empirical substantiation of claims made in medical journal psychiatric drug advertisements and that most claims provided no attainable sources, increased regulation of such advertising is warranted.