Healthy Skepticism Library item: 7873

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

Healy D.
The myth of 'mood stabilising' drugs
New Scientist 2006 Apr 15; (2547):
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/mg19025471.200-the-myth-of-mood-stabilising-drugs.html;jsessionid=EGHGLKIFLFAK

Abstract:

There’s a huge gap between claims made for these drugs and evidence for their safety and effectiveness – yet they are now being dished out even to young children
IT STARTS with a vibrant woman dancing late into the night. “Your doctor never sees you like this,” a voice-over says. The screen cuts to a shrunken, glum figure: “This is who your doctor sees.” Next we see the woman in active shopping mode. “That is why so many people with bipolar disorder are being treated for depression and aren’t getting any better – because depression is only half the story.” We see the woman again depressed, looking at bills that have arrived in the post, then cut to her energetically painting her apartment. “That fast-talking, energetic, quick-tempered, up-all-night you,” says the voice-over, “probably never shows up in the doctor’s office.”

This advertisement was screened on US television in 2002. It encouraged viewers to log onto bipolarawareness.com, which takes you to a website called the Bipolar Help Center. Scroll down and you see the site belongs to pharmaceutical …