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Consequences of Misdiagnosis of Mental Illness
- Dr Titilayo Akinsola
- Oct 8
- 5 min read
Misdiagnosis of mental health disorders is more than just an error in classification—it can lead to serious downstream consequences across emotional, physical, social, and economic domains. For individuals already struggling, the difference between “diagnosed correctly” vs “misdiagnosed” can mean relief vs worsening of suffering.
At Favor Mental Health, we recognize that accurate diagnosis is foundational. When it’s wrong, the harms can cascade. Below, we explore what misdiagnosis looks like, its consequences, and how mindful practice can reduce risk.
What Misdiagnosis Includes
Misdiagnosis in mental health may take several forms:
Wrong diagnosis — e.g. a patient is given depression when the pattern suggests bipolar disorder.
Delayed diagnosis — the correct disorder is not identified until late, after periods of incorrect or no treatment.
Overdiagnosis — diagnosing a condition when the evidence is weak, or labelling normative emotional reactions as psychiatric illness.
Diagnostic overshadowing — attributing new symptoms purely to an existing diagnosis (or disability) without considering alternative or comorbid issues.
The Many Consequences of Misdiagnosis
Here are the main areas of harm, backed by evidence, that result from misdiagnosis:
Domain | Consequences | Examples / Why It Matters |
Emotional / Psychological | Increased distress, feelings of shame, guilt, hopelessness; loss of trust in oneself & in mental health providers. | Someone misdiagnosed with anxiety only to find later they have bipolar disorder may feel confused or blame themselves for “not getting better.” The mis-match erodes self-confidence. |
Treatment-Related Harms | Ineffective therapy; delayed access to correct treatment; exposure to unnecessary side effects; medication risk. | For example, antidepressants prescribed when someone needs a mood stabilizer may worsen certain symptoms. Or sedating meds may be given when not needed, causing cognitive dulling or physical side effects. |
Worsening or Altered Clinical Course | Condition can become more severe; comorbidities may develop; risk of relapse; chronicity; increased hospitalizations. | Without correct diagnosis and treatment, symptoms may worsen over time. What might have been treatable becomes more entrenched. |
Social, Occupational, and Relational Impact | Strained relationships; problems at work or school; stigma; isolation; possibly legal or social implications based on record or label. | A wrong diagnosis may burden family, cause misunderstandings, or lead employers or insurers to treat someone differently. |
Identity & Self-Perception Issues | Internalizing the wrong label; losing sense of agency; feeling “broken” or defective; possibly experiencing a mismatch between self and diagnostic narrative. | Someone may start acting or believing they are what their misdiagnosis claims, which may prevent them from exploring their true issues. |
Clinical & Systemic Costs | Higher healthcare costs (wasted treatments, more visits, hospital stays); legal risk; erosion of trust in providers and the healthcare system; under‐reporting of symptoms in future; avoidance of care. | Misdiagnosed patients may need more frequent care, or resort to crisis services. Some may avoid further care after negative experiences. |
Specific Examples & Case Studies
Bipolar vs Depression: Misdiagnosing someone with major depressive disorder (MDD) instead of bipolar disorder can lead to inappropriate use of antidepressants. In bipolar cases, certain antidepressants without mood stabilizers may trigger mania or rapid cycling.
Personality Disorders Mislabelled: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can be misdiagnosed as PTSD, anxiety, or depression. Conversely, BPD mislabeled may prevent proper psychotherapeutic interventions that are more effective for BPD.
Autism in Women: Many women with autism are misdiagnosed with anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder because of “masking” behaviour, leading to delay in support for autism‐related needs.
Why Misdiagnosis Happens
To understand consequences, it helps to see why misdiagnosis occurs. Some common contributing factors:
Symptom overlap among disorders (e.g. depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar) making differential diagnosis challenging.
Lack of full history, including trauma, family history, substance use, biophysical conditions. If these are not asked, missed, or minimized, diagnosis may be off.
Clinician bias / assumptions (gender, cultural, racial) that affect how symptoms are interpreted.
Time pressure, limited appointment durations, inadequate resources for assessment.
Diagnostics tools and criteria limitations; variability in presentations. Not all disorders present cleanly, especially early.
How to Mitigate These Risks: What Favor Mental Health Does
Here are strategies and practices that can reduce the risk of misdiagnosis and help catch them early:
Comprehensive Assessment
Getting full psychiatric history (onset, duration, pattern, fluctuations).
Including trauma history, substance use, sleep patterns, medical comorbidities.
Using validated screening tools and, when needed, structured interviews.
Regular Re-evaluations
Diagnosis should not be static; as new information emerges or response to treatment unfolds, clinicians should revisit and refine diagnosis.
Being open to changing diagnosis or adding comorbidities.
Second Opinions or Specialist Consultation
Especially in complex or treatment-resistant cases.
Involving psychologists, psychiatrists, or specialists (for example, neuropsychiatric or developmental when autism or ADHD in adults is suspected).
Patient Engagement & Psychoeducation
Educating clients about how diagnosis works, the possibility of overlap, and encouraging them to report when treatments do not help.
Encouraging self-advocacy: questions like “Why this diagnosis?”, “What alternatives?”, “What if treatment fails?”
Mental Health Monitoring & Feedback Loops
Tracking symptoms over time, side effects, functional outcomes (work, relationships, daily functioning), not just symptom checklists.
Using feedback to adjust treatment / diagnosis path.
Holistic, Context-Aware Diagnostic Approach
Considering cultural, environmental, and life-contextual factors.
Not reducing everything to biology; mental health conditions are influenced by social stressors, trauma, etc.
Transparent Communication & Validation
Validating patients’ experiences (even when symptoms overlap).
Being honest about uncertainty: it is okay to say “We don’t know yet” rather than forcing a label.
What Happens if Misdiagnosis Persists
If misdiagnosis is left uncorrected for long periods, these are likely outcomes:
Chronic suffering: symptoms persist or worsen, quality of life continues to degrade.
Irreversible or harder-to-change patterns: e.g. entrenched behavioral coping, cognitive distortions, social withdrawal.
Increased risk of self-harm or suicidal ideation, especially when someone feels repeatedly helpless or misunderstood.
Loss of trust: both in mental health services and in one’s ability to understand oneself. This can lead to avoidance of care in future, worsening prognosis.
Economic, legal, or social burdens increase: job loss, educational underachievement, increased financial costs of incorrect treatments / hospitalizations.
How to Use This Information: For Patients & Clinicians
If you (as patient/client) suspect your diagnosis isn’t quite right, it’s okay (and wise) to seek a second opinion.
Keep a symptom journal: when things started, what helps, what doesn’t, patterns. That helps in clarifying diagnosis.
Be clear with your mental health provider about all symptoms—even those you think irrelevant (e.g. sleep, appetite changes, mood swings, family history).
Clinicians: build in checkpoints to reassess diagnosis; build trust; avoid rushing to label; communicate uncertainties.
Conclusion
Misdiagnosis of mental illness is not just a diagnostic technicality—it carries heavy human cost: worsening symptom burden, treatment harm, identity struggles, social strain, and sometimes tragedy.
At Favor Mental Health in Bel Air, MD, we are committed to:
giving you accurate, evolving diagnoses
integrating mental health, medical, and psychosocial perspectives
supporting you in understanding your diagnosis, your treatment, and your rights
If you ever feel your diagnosis doesn’t “fit” – that treatments aren’t working, or you don’t recognize yourself in the label, feel free to reach out to us via our website. We’ll walk with you to get clarity and redirect toward what truly helps.
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