Links between TV news ... and reports of drug side effects
Links between TV news ... and reports of drug side effects
2 July 2020
Auckland University has looked at Pharmac's 2018 switch from a branded antidepressant -- to the generic equivalent.
It found a significant increase in reports of adverse reactions after television news discussed the side effects since the switch.
The Department of Psychological Medicine's Keith Petrie says that's called a nocebo - where patients experience bad side effects because they are worried about them.
He says one of the most interesting facts was the increase in specific symptoms, in particular, suicidal thoughts -- with many more reports straight after TV news items.
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