A supervisee recently asked if it is kosher to disclose a psychological diagnosis to a patient. An ages-old debate, I helped her arrive at her own conclusion for her patient. I must admit, however, I have always felt perplexed as to some practitioners’ resistance to sharing the clinical term for the patient’s experience.

Arguments against diagnosis disclosure:

Much has been written about the alleged damages of mental health diagnosis/disclosure. The two primary arguments and their reasoning I’ve heard over the years are:

  • The patient takes on the label.
  • Diagnoses are stigmatizing.

The irony of the arguments:

  • By avoiding talking about their diagnosis, is it not contributing to the very stigma that keeping mum is allegedly protecting them from? It sends the message: “Having a mental health diagnosis isn’t pretty.”
  • We are supposed to essentially deny someone has the condition that we are nonetheless treating because it may be incorporated into their identity. Even if they don’t know their diagnosis, could they not also incorporate into their identity “I see a shrink?,” thus also implying mental defect, and leading to shameful self-perception? It’s not so much diagnosis, it’s the more global matter of mental health care still being stigmatized despite it’s rising popularity the past two decades.
  • Why would it only be psychiatric diagnoses that negatively impact patients’ self perceptions? If diagnosis was so damaging and stigmatizing, why not withhold STD’s, HIV/AIDS, Obesity, and Substance Abuse diagnoses, all perhaps just as stigmatizing, or more, than mental health conditions.
  • Many people have a fallacious idea of their diagnosis from pop culture’s erroneous representations, non mental-health practitioners, friends, or internet searches. I have met my share of people convinced they have a serious mental illness from the aforementioned sources, like Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, or OCD. Some have anticipated a future of significant psychiatric medication, or landing in a program where their life revolves around exposure therapy exercises for months on end. Is it not more ethical to inform them of their actual diagnosis, erasing the impending doom, and giving them accurate information on prognosis and treatment?
  • Lastly, depending on insurance companies, many receive an explanation of benefits (EOB), from which they could easily obtain their diagnosis. They can also simply call their insurance provider. Such a cat-and-mouse game doesn’t do much for trust in a therapeutic relationship.

What this means for the therapist:

  • It is equally important to consider how not disclosing it could impact them/your relationship.
  • If a patient pointedly asks for their diagnosis, it is likely more than curiosity. Imagine a patient with a problem they’ve never encountered before who feels they’re losing their mind. They want to understand and know it is something that can be managed. Providing the diagnosis helps this process, identifying with others and being able to research it.
  • It may be appropriate to offer the correct diagnosis, especially if they have themselves misrepresented.
  • A patient has a right to know about their condition in order to self-advocate or to ascertain if they are receiving the proper care.

Ultimately, it isn’t so much about “should a patient be told their diagnosis?” Perhaps it is more important to consider how it is explained to them that dictates if it effects them good or bad. On Sunday, 08/02/2020, we’ll review some helpful approaches.

References:

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2020). Understanding your diagnosis: why diagnosis matters. https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Individuals-with-Mental-Illness/Understanding-Your-Diagnosis

Van Gelder, Kiera (2010). The buddha and the borderline. (1st ed). New Harbinger Publications.