Consequences of misdiagnosis and labeling in psychiatry

Differences in diagnostic approaches between psychiatry and other medical specialties were examined and problems resulting from misdiagnosis are presented. The labelling and stigma resulting from misdiagnosis have severe implications and there is inherent difficulty in correcting misdiagnoses of major psychiatric disorders. We present a 38-year-old man who underwent numerous psychiatric and psychological examinations in order to change a previous misdiagnosis. The difficulties examiners had in accepting the possibility of misdiagnosis, and its severe consequences, are described.