Document Detail


Americans' attitudes toward psychiatric medications: 1998-2006.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19648187     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVES: This study examined recent changes in attitudes toward psychiatric medications in the U.S. general population. METHODS: Samples of adult participants in the U.S. General Social Surveys of 1998 (N=1,387) and 2006 (N=1,437) were compared for opinions on the benefits and risks of psychiatric medications as well as willingness to take them in hypothetical situations, including experiencing symptoms of panic attacks or major depression and difficulty in coping with stress or having trouble in personal life. RESULTS: Public opinions regarding benefits of psychiatric medications became more favorable between 1998 and 2006. More participants in 2006 than in 1998 thought that medications help people to deal with day-to-day stresses (83.4% versus 77.8%), make things easier in relation with family and friends (75.9% versus 68.4%), and help people feel better about themselves (68.0% versus 60.1%). The public expressed a greater willingness to take medications in 2006 compared with 1998 for trouble in personal life (29.1% versus 23.3%), to cope with stresses of life (46.6% versus 35.5%), for depression (49.1% versus 41.2%), and for panic attacks (63.7% versus 55.6%). Opinions regarding the risks of medications did not change between 1998 and 2006. CONCLUSIONS: Americans' opinions toward psychiatric medications became more favorable over the past decade, and people became more willing to take these medications. These changes have likely contributed to the increased use of psychiatric medications in recent years and will continue to do so in the coming years.
Authors:
Ramin Mojtabai
Related Documents :
12325057 - A survey of the views of geriatric psychiatrists in the united kingdom on the use of el...
11132357 - Use of psychiatric rating instruments in ethiopia.
9437567 - Electroconvulsive therapy consultation: an update.
9493487 - Comparison of sexual functioning in clinical and nonclinical populations using the chan...
11602367 - Community voices: views on the training of future doctors in birmingham, uk.
7002987 - Statute and legislative history of the federal insecticide, fungicide, and rodenticide ...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)     Volume:  60     ISSN:  1557-9700     ISO Abbreviation:  Psychiatr Serv     Publication Date:  2009 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-08-03     Completed Date:  2009-11-17     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9502838     Medline TA:  Psychiatr Serv     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1015-23     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Room 795, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. rmojtaba@jhsph.edu
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Attitude to Health
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Psychotropic Drugs*
Public Opinion*
United States
Young Adult
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Psychotropic Drugs

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  State mental health policy: implementation of computerized medication prescribing algorithms in a co...
Next Document:  The long-term impact of employment on mental health service use and costs for persons with severe me...