Resisting stigma and evaluating realism in a direct-to-consumer advertisement for psychiatric drugs

What is it about?

Classic labeling theory suggests that people diagnosed with mental illness internalize this label, but research has shown that individuals will sometimes actively resist stigma. This study analyzes responses to a survey about a Direct-to-Consumer advertisement to look at how experience with mental illness influences perceptions of stigma and realism. The study concludes that people who have lived experience of mental illness may find psychiatric drug ads unrealistic. Additionally, the study reconfirms conclusions of previous research that people who have experience with mental health conditions possess fewer stigmatizing beliefs overall regarding mental illness.

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