Psychiatrist mis-diagnosing catatonic patients & the effects it has on them.
The
Psychiatrist mis-diagnosing catatonic patients & the effects it has on them.
Thesis- How misdiagnosing catatonia is often led to the prescriptions of antipsychotics which in turn make the catatonic symptoms in the patient worse. Symptoms of catatonia are often seen in other, more common mental illnesses. So the diagnosis of catatonia is often overlooked especially when patients are diagnosed with autism.
Confirmation bias – the tendency to gather evidence that confirms preexisting expectations, typically by emphasizing or pursuing supporting evidence while dismissing or failing to seek contradictory evidence.
Diagnostic overshadowing- when a healthcare professional assumes that a patient’s complaint is due to their disability or coexisting mental health condition rather than fully exploring the cause of the patient’s symptoms.
Intended for- healthcare professionals – specifically in mental health field
A Clinical Review of the Treatment of Catatonia –
The use of Antipsychotics in patients with catatonia. There is some ambiguity about the role of antipsychotics but it is generally encouraged to discontinue antipsychotic treatment in patients presenting with catatonia. contribute to maintaining or worsening the catatonic state. based on cases mostly with schizophrenia. ECT-treated patients showed significantly greater improvement than those receiving risperidone (antipsychotic) nce treatment with benzodiazepines or ECT is started and catatonia improves, there may be a role for SGA to target residual psychotic symptoms such as delusions or hallucinations. symptoms of catatonia and delirium overlap, complicating diagnosis.
“Profound autism”: The dire consequences of diagnostic overshadowing
autism assessments should be broadened into co-occurring difficulties, impairments, and support needs. create autism subgroups, Often pertinent parts of a person’s spiky profile are missed during assessments, particularly when the lines are blurred between what is autism, and what isn’t. This leads to the belief that certain experiences or symptoms associated with other conditions are part of being autistic when they are indicative of another condition entirely. Autism subgroups are controversial because Autistic persons as a population are suffering greatly due to a lack of sufficient support.