Product liability litigation a threat to mental health treatment

Results of a recent survey shed light on a new barrier to treatment affecting people with severe mental illness. The findings show fears raised by product liability litigation involving antipsychotic drugs may be putting patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder at risk for relapse. These fears add to the already heavy burden that patients face as they work to manage symptoms, stay on their medication and work with their theapy providers to improve their mental and physical health, it found.

The survey, which was conducted among 402 psychiatrists who treat patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, showed that, even when patients were responding well to their prescribed antipsychotic treatment, many requested a medication change because these drugs are featured in law firm advertisements. Other patients stopped taking their medicine, often without telling their psychiatrist, for the same reason, the survey revealed.

"Many of our patients already struggle with accepting their illness and staying on their prescribed treatment, and now they are experiencing new levels of fear due to the increasing incidence of these jarring advertisements," said Ralph Aquila, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, and director, residential community services, St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, USA. "This irresponsible advertising is hindering the progress of therapy for many of these patients and disrupting the important relationship between them and their health care providers. Plaintiffs attorneys need to consider the consequences that these advertisements may have on patients," Dr Aquila added.