Anxiety UK publish findings of medical gaslighting and diagnostic overshadowing research

In the past few years, there have been an increasing number of commentaries on the issues of medical gaslighting and diagnostic overshadowing.

Although thought to be under-diagnosed (fewer than half of people with the condition seek treatment), and under-treated (fewer than a third obtain adequate treatment), approximately 5% of the adult population of high-income countries like the UK live with GAD.

Our headline finding is that people with GAD are 2 to 3 times more likely to experience either medical gaslighting or diagnostic overshadowing when reporting their physical health problems to HCPs, when compared to people who do not have GAD. Aware of this, we also found widespread HCP desire to better understand and address this difference and its inequitable outcomes.

Our research provides the first empirical statement of the scale of medical gaslighting and diagnostic overshadowing in the health care experiences of people with GAD in the UK. More positively, it also reveals high GP and patient awareness of these issues, as well as a desire to address them.

A copy of the full findings can be found here https://www.octopus.ac/publications/wn1q-kj61/versions/latest and a copy of the  report into medical gaslighting and diagnostic overshadowing experienced by those living with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) can be found here https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/medical-gaslighting-and-diagnostic-overshadowing/ 

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Anxiety UK is a national registered charity formed in 1970 by someone living with agoraphobia for those affected by anxiety disorders. Today we are still a user-led organisation, run by people with experience of living with anxiety or anxiety-based depression, supported by a high-profile medical advisory panel.

Discover more about Anxiety UK:

Anxiety UK is a national registered charity formed in 1970 by someone living with agoraphobia for those affected by anxiety disorders. Today we are still a user-led organisation, run by people with experience of living with anxiety or anxiety-based depression, supported by a high-profile medical advisory panel.