“Diagnostic Dissent”: Experiences of Individuals Who Disagreed With Their Diagnosis

Researchers investigate the first-person experiences of people who disagreed with their psychiatric diagnosis of psychosis.

This article has been written by Zenobia Morrill and published (2018) on Mad in America. It begins:

“Faith Forgione, a student at Fordham University, NY, recently published part of a larger study that examined the lived experiences of individuals who have received a psychiatric diagnosis that they felt to be inaccurate and invalidating. This project, guided by Dr. Marcotte, Dr. Kamens, and Dr. Wertz, among others, gives voice to an underreported phenomenon and asks: ‘How do individuals diagnosed with psychotic disorders experience perceived misdiagnosis?’

Disagreeing with one’s psychiatric diagnosis is not uncommon, particularly for those given a diagnosis of schizophrenia. It is important, Forgione argues, to examine the ramifications of receiving a diagnostic label for these individuals. While for some a diagnosis can provide a framework to understand their distress, others experience invalidation, trivialization, and frustration, particularly when the diagnosis lacks adequate explanation or justification by providers. This can result in deleterious social and psychological effects. For example, when a diagnosis results in greater dehumanization and social distancing it can increase one’s negative affect and distress rather than ameliorating it. …”

You can read more from here.

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