Stupid Drug Ads

[Jemima]

I just came across an ad on the New York Times online site that said, "Are you schizophrenic?" And I thought, "Why no - and neither am I"*. How idiotic to expect a schizophrenic to self-diagnose!

 

A few days ago I had my car inspected and while leafing through a magazine in the waiting room I came across an ad for Pristiq. There was a second page with oodles of warnings, one of which was to call your doctor immediately if you experienced the adverse side effect of being in a coma. Huh???

 

*I got this from a DVD title - produced and directed by a doctor - called "I'm A Schizophrenic and So Am I". http://www.ravigodse.com/

[Barbarannamated]

Amazing what those ads say when you really listen ~ no doubt they've done studies to use best verbal techniques so that people tune out ~ advert manipulation is Orwellian -

[Rhiannon]

Um may I just add that the whole "split personality" thing is a complete urban legend, popular misunderstanding screwed up idea about schizophrenia?

 

"Split personality" is not a symptom of what we call schizophrenia. The splitting of identity/personality is a dissociative disorder that used to be called "multiple personalities" and is now called "dissociative identity disorder."

 

It's caused by, usually, the severe abuse and torture of children during the period of life when their sense of identity is forming (between ages 3-4 and about 10). (Sometimes it develops as a result of nonabusive situations but always trauma--for example multiple serial painful surgeries. But this is rare. It's usually due to extreme abuse, rapes, etc.)

 

It's basically a form of complex PTSD and it can be resolved by lots of agonizing therapy. Most of the time unless you know someone with DID very well, you can't spot it from outside.

 

I get a little touchy about "split personality" jokes because it's a disorder caused by the torture of children.

[Barbarannamated]

Um may I just add that the whole "split personality" thing is a complete urban legend, popular misunderstanding screwed up idea about schizophrenia?

 

"Split personality" is not a symptom of what we call schizophrenia. The splitting of identity/personality is a dissociative disorder that used to be called "multiple personalities" and is now called "dissociative identity disorder."

 

It's caused by, usually, the severe abuse and torture of children during the period of life when their sense of identity is forming (between ages 3-4 and about 10). (Sometimes it develops as a result of nonabusive situations but always trauma--for example multiple serial painful surgeries. But this is rare. It's usually due to extreme abuse, rapes, etc.)

 

It's basically a form of complex PTSD and it can be resolved by lots of agonizing therapy. Most of the time unless you know someone with DID very well, you can't spot it from outside.

 

I get a little touchy about "split personality" jokes because it's a disorder caused by the torture of children.

 

Rhi,

I've heard these confused or used interchangeably from the time I first read anything about psychology. You explain so well why it's important to remember the underlying emotions involved. HUGS.