Beyond the Symptoms: The Importance of Accurate Diagnosis

Christina Applegate’s story of her difficult pursuit of a clear diagnosis is disheartening. Read the article here.

Every medical condition is different, and accurate diagnosis may require specific assessment tools, expertise, and specialist training. As stories like Christina Applegate’s remind us, an accurate diagnosis can be important in identifying appropriate treatment, while an incorrect diagnosis may expose people to treatments they do not need and, in some cases, potentially serious risks. Although misdiagnosis can occur, there are usually ways to help reduce the risk of this happening.

Ms. Applegate’s story made me think of my own industry. In psychology, misdiagnoses can also occur. People who arrive with an established diagnosis, such as bipolar disorder, dementia, or ADHD, are sometimes surprised to learn through a comprehensive assessment that their symptoms may be better explained by a different diagnosis or by a more complex combination of factors than they had previously understood.

A diagnosis is not always necessary or desired. However, a comprehensive assessment can help clarify what may be contributing to a person’s symptoms. This greater understanding can lead to a diagnosis and help identify treatments and supports that may be beneficial.

As a psychologist with a background in neurobiology and immunology as well as research activities which focus on the mechanisms underlying age-related changes in cognitive functionhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1568163714001068, I bring a perspective that emphasizes investigating the potential underlying causes and contributors to symptoms, rather than focusing on the presence of symptoms alone.

A neuropsychological assessment can be much like detective work: gathering information from multiple sources, using measures that have extensive normative data, examining patterns, and considering different explanations to understand what may be happening. This approach goes beyond simply checking symptoms on a list or relying on simple, publicly available screening measures. When conducted by an experienced clinician, a comprehensive assessment can provide a more detailed understanding of a person’s difficulties and help guide appropriate care.

Unfortunately, comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological assessments can be difficult to access in Ontario. Awareness of their value remains limited in some settings, costs can be a barrier, and waitlists at specialized hospital departments in large, urban areas may be lengthy and difficult to access. As a result, some people may have access only to more limited screening approaches, which can be helpful but may not provide the same depth of information as a comprehensive assessment.

I continue to advocate with community and government agencies for greater public funding to improve access to comprehensive assessments for adults and older adults. As our population ages, the need to better understand changes in memory, thinking, and other cognitive abilities—and to support accurate diagnosis where possible—becomes increasingly important. As our population contends with serious mental health concerns, the need for an accurate understanding of symptoms to inform appropriate care is also increasing.

For those with private insurance or employee benefits, psychological and neuropsychological assessments may be partially covered, depending on the details of their plan.

Understanding the cause of symptoms can be an important step toward finding the right support and care. Home