Finnish Study Reveals Misconceptions About Depression Diagnosis
According to a recent study conducted in Finland, people frequently receive inaccurate information on depression. Researchers from the University of Turku and the University of the Arts Helsinki claim that this misinformation makes it harder for people to understand their distress.
Most mental health diagnoses are descriptive. For example, a diagnosis of depression describes a range of psychiatric symptoms but does not identify the underlying cause. However, depression is often discussed as a condition characterized by poor mood and other symptoms, which researchers describe as circular reasoning. This makes it difficult for people to understand their distress.
Jani Kajanoja, a postdoctoral researcher and medical doctor specializing in psychiatry at the University of Turku, explained, “Depression should be considered a diagnosis similar to a headache. Both are medical diagnoses, but neither explains what causes the symptoms. Like a headache, depression is a description of a problem that can have many different causes.”
The study analyzed publicly available information on depression from leading international health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, and Harvard and Johns Hopkins Universities. Most organizations inaccurately portray depression as a disorder that causes symptoms, rather than a description of symptoms.
Professor and Neuropsychologist Jussi Valtonen from the University of the Arts Helsinki added, “People seem to have a tendency to think that a diagnosis is an explanation, even when it is not. It is important for professionals not to reinforce this misconception with their communication, and instead help people understand their condition.”
