Self-diagnosis

Self-diagnosis

Self-diagnosis is the process of diagnosing, or identifying, medical conditions in oneself. It may be assisted by medical dictionaries, books, resources on the Internet, past personal experiences, or recognizing symptoms or medical signs of a condition that a family member previously had.

Self-diagnosis is prone to error and may be potentially dangerous if inappropriate decisions are made on the basis of a misdiagnosis.cite web |url=http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/(Pages)/Health_information_on_the_Internet?OpenDocument |title=Health information on the Internet - Better Health Channel. |accessdate=2008-03-23 |format= |work=] Because of the risks, self-diagnosis is officially discouraged by governments, physicians, and patient care organizations. Even physicians are discouraged from engaging in self-diagnosis,cite web |url=http://www.webmm.ahrq.gov/case.aspx?caseID=71&searchStr=saline |title=AHRQ WebM&M: Case & Commentary |accessdate=2008-03-23 |format= |work=] because doctors too make mistakes in diagnosing themselves.cite web |url=http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1602738 |title=A case of self-diagnosis. |accessdate=2008-03-23 |format= |work=] If the self-diagnosis is wrong, then the misdiagnosis can result in improper health care, including wrong treatments and lack of care for serious conditions.cite web |url=http://www.rmf.harvard.edu/case-studies/high-risk-areas/diagnosis/reliance-on-patients-self-diagnosis-obscures-fatal-condition.aspx |title=CRICO/RMF - Case Studies - High Risk Areas - Diagnosis - Reliance on Patient’s Self Diagnosis Obscures Fatal Condition |accessdate=2008-03-23 |format= |work=]

However, self-diagnosis may be appropriate under certain circumstances.cite book |author=Peter D. Stonier; Fletcher, Andrew; Lionel D. Edwards; Fox, Anthony D |title=Principles and practice of pharmaceutical medicine |publisher=Wiley |location=New York |year=2002 |pages=142 |isbn=0-471-98655-0 |oclc= |doi=] cite web |url=http://www.aafp.org/afp/20060801/curbside.html |title=Curbside Consultation - August 1, 2006 -- American Family Physician |accessdate=2008-03-23 |format= |work=] All over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications are offered on the assumption that people are capable of self-diagnosis. Some conditions are more likely to be self-diagnosed, especially simple conditions such as headlice and skin abrasions or familiar conditions such as menstrual cramps, headache or the common cold.

Complex conditions for which medications are heavily advertised, including conditions like ADHD in adults,cite book |author=Conrad, Peter |title=The Medicalization of Society: On the Transformation of Human Conditions into Treatable Disorders |publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press |location=Baltimore |year=2007 |pages=59 |isbn=0-8018-8585-X] present a more challenging situation. Direct-to-consumer marketing of medications is widely criticized for promoting inappropriate self-diagnosis.cite web |url=http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/stories/2007/01/08/0108meshmeds.html |title=Self diagnosis from TV drug ads can be dangerous | ajc.com |accessdate=2008-03-23 |format= |work=] cite web |url=http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/8347.html |title=AMA (Professionalism) E-5.015 Direct-to-consumer advertisements of prescription drugs |accessdate=2008-03-23 |format= |work=] Other conditions that are commonly self-diagnosed include celiac disease. [Clinic Handbook: Gastroenterology by J L H Wong (Editor), I. A. Murray (Editor), S. H. Hussaini (Editor), H. R. Dalton (Editor). ISBN 978-1859960530. Page 151.]

ee also

* Cure
* Cyberchondria
* Home remedy
* Related mental disorders:
** Delusional parasitosis
** First clinical syndrome
** Hypochondria
** Medical student syndrome
** Morgellons
* Therapy

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • self-diagnosis — self diagnosing, adj. self diagnostic /self duy euhg nos tik/, adj. /self duy euhg noh sis/, n., pl. self diagnoses / seez/. 1. the diagnosis of one s own malady or illness. 2. the capability of an electronic system to detect and analyze an error …   Universalium

  • self-diagnosis — self diagnosing, adj. self diagnostic /self duy euhg nos tik/, adj. /self duy euhg noh sis/, n., pl. self diagnoses / seez/. 1. the diagnosis of one s own malady or illness. 2. the capability of an electronic system to detect and analyze an error …   Useful english dictionary

  • self-diagnosis — self′ diagno′sis n. pl. ses …   From formal English to slang

  • self-diagnosis — /sɛlf daɪəgˈnoʊsəs/ (say self duyuhg nohsuhs) noun 1. the practice of forming one s own opinion of the cause of one s illness or complaint. 2. such a diagnosis …  

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  • self-di|ag|no|sis — «SEHLF DY uhg NOH sihs», noun. diagnosis of one s own disease: »“Self diagnosis” venereal disease is impossible, and medical advice should always be sought (London Times) …   Useful english dictionary

  • self-diagnose — /sɛlf daɪəgˈnoʊz/ (say self duyuhg nohz) verb (i) (self diagnosed, self diagnosing) to decide on a diagnosis for one s illness, without advice from a medical professional. –self diagnosis, noun …  

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