The role of media in reporting medical research is quite a debate. There are those who hold that the media distort research findings, exploiting them for ratings at the expense of health consumers, and that hypotheses are reported as facts before adequate vetting. On the other side, many believe the involvement of the media encourages informed, educated health consumers and provides needed scrutiny of ethical issues in medical research. Each time we report research finding related to our community of bipolar disorder consumers, this argument comes up.
I shared in a blog about a series of published research studies indicating that bipolar disorder and schizophrenia may be the same disorder with the same cause. In response, many of you made some valid points regarding research and the scientific method. As a matter of fact, we receive similar responses whenever we open the discussion about current research. In example, here are some of the responses to this specific blog:
- Spongedaddy - They still don’t know and are only reporting on relative observations. However, the media will get a hold of this and try to sell it as absolute.
- Laura - I can say that it is interesting and it’s good that research into genetic links is important, the conclusions from what is still preliminary research should be drawn with care and further study. I agree that this topic can produce misunderstandings; it already has.
- Leigh - All of these studies/findings need more conclusive evidence before it is all tied together and presented to the public. When I first saw this article, I sort of had a sense of WHAT?? After years of research THIS as the whole TRUTH!!
The Role of Media – Facilitating the Scientific Process
You are correct. The scientific method of research is a process -- a process that usually takes years or even decades to move an idea from hypothesis to theory. (See The Scientific Method of Research) However, this process has now accelerated. Gains in learning are now achieved in periods of years rather than decades. A significant contributing factor to this is the rapid communication of ideas around the world facilitated in part by the media. The give-and-take relationship between consumers and the health industry, often incited by media reporting, has also pushed the process.
The Role of Media – Consumers Should Be Cautious
Now I absolutely agree the media tends to pick up specific findings in studies and report them as fact before they are adequately born out through additional research. This is why it is so important for all of us to be informed readers. Trisha Torrey, the About.com Guide to Patient Empowerment, offers a step-by-step process for how to Make Medical Headlines Work for You.
The Role of Media – Educating Consumers
But I strongly believe that the media should play a role in reporting medical research with the general population. Consider the article I wrote about Childhood Onset Bipolar Disorder – Beyond Obscurity. Parents became more engaged in their children’s mental health, forcing child psychiatry to respond and changing the overall medical approach to kids with bipolar disorder.The Role of Media – Ethical Watchdogs
Certainly the media is riddled with quite a set of its own ethical dilemmas. However, the drive of reporters to scoop the next big scandal, to catch self-serving predators seeking gain at the expense of individuals, has setup an informal watchdog in the yard of medical research. Researchers have been called out for conflict-of-interest in taking incredible monetary support from big pharma. The National Institutes of Health and the American Psychiatric Association, while once always working towards minimizing these ethical issues, are now reviewing policy changes enacting stricter guidelines and penalties.
The Role of Media – A Little Inspiration
Bipolar disorder is a life-time of struggling with ups and downs, medication changes, good periods and bad. At times, the horizon looks pretty dark. For me, and I hope others, it is encouraging to know there are researchers in the scientific community dedicated to finding answers, dedicated to making a difference. Seeing the results of their work, even if there is no immediate return for consumers, is hope-inspiring.
