Michael Nash outlines how physical symptom reports among people with mental health problems are often attributed to mental illness, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment
Diagnostic overshadowing occurs when symptoms of physical illness are attributed to the service user’s mental illness. This increases the risks of treatment delay and the development of complications. The situation may arise due to stigmatisation of the mental condition and negative attitudes among healthcare practitioners, together with a lack of education and training in physical or mental health, or a lack of confidence in clinical skills and symptom recognition.
Preventing diagnostic overshadowing is challenging because it requires staff to reflect continually on their attitudes, skills and education needs, and practice.
Mental Health Practice. 17, 4, 22-26. doi: 10.7748/mhp2013.12.17.4.22.e862
Correspondence Peer reviewThis article has been subject to double blind peer review
Conflict of interestNone declared
Received: 28 February 2013
Accepted: 25 March 2013
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