He also said that the reaction to the long format advertisement was generally positive. The general response from the callers was that they were glad to learn more about depression and about Prozac. They felt the spots were up front about the drug, about what it does and doesn't do, and about its potential side effects. For psychiatrist Freda Lewis-Hall, M.D., director of Lilly's Center for Women's Health, however, the issues of professionalism versus commercialism were particularly important. Asked by her employer to host the program, Lewis-Hall had to reckon not only with the impact she could have on individuals, but also with her own reputation as a physician.
Television reaches people where they sit.
You can't educate people in 30 or 60 seconds about things that are hugely complex, like diabetes, hypertension or depression. I was able to tell people how difficult it is to step up to the plate, admit that something's wrong and to seek medical help, to recognize that this is a medical condition and not a weakness. The infomercial included statements that there were any number of treatments for depression and that Prozac is not right for everyone. It consistently urged viewers to discuss their concern with their doctors, important qualifiers Lewis-Hall said. Michael Blumenfield, M.D., the chair of the APA's joint commission on public affairs, told PT that the organization has not taken any official position on the use of infomercials, although he recognized that any effort to help educate the public about depression is welcome.