THE DANGERS OF ONLINE SELF-DIAGNOSIS
by Dr Alan Black, Director of Blackwell Associates Ltd
“As we submerge ourselves further into the digital era, the modern phenomenon of cyberchondria (the term used for those who search symptoms online for a medical diagnosis), is a growing concern amongst healthcare professionals.
"With the majority of people now having full, 24 hour access to computer and mobile technology, we have entered an age of self-diagnosis were the line between a patient and doctor is becoming increasingly blurred. Whilst the benefits of having such a vast amount of information available at our fingertips can be argued (such as raising awareness of medical conditions) the same cannot be said for the number of misdiagnosis cases and/or mental distress it has led to.
"The risk is a patient will likely be met with the most serious types of illness when they first enter their symptoms into a search engine, which can often provoke unnecessary feelings of anxiety and stress.
"A study by Microsoft for instance revealed that the probability of a “brain tumour” diagnosis showing in response to an online search for “headache” stood at 0.26 - the same as “caffeine withdrawal” also.
"Despite the huge range in scale, research has shown that individuals are more inclined to believe the most severe and perhaps less common diagnosis, than the more likely, less serious one.
"With this misinformation in hand, individuals may then attempt to self-medicate the illness they believe to have by taking over-the-counter pills or making substantial changes to their lifestyle and diet.
"Not only is this unnecessary in many cases, but more worryingly, it also leaves the door open for the true source of the problem to develop and worsen due to the delay in an accurate diagnosis by a medical professional.
"Another thing to also consider is the comparison between the self-diagnosis of a physical and a mental condition.
"Unlike a physical illness, which can be detected through a series of physical symptoms, the source of emotional and mental complications such as fatigue, anxiety and low mood, can prove much more difficult to pinpoint.
"Without a full understanding of the complexities and subtleties of mental illness, most people will inadvertently over simplify it and misdiagnose their condition with depression or other common mental illnesses as a result. Not only does this jeopardise the treatment and recovery of the patient in the long-term, but makes them more susceptible to new health issues as well.
"For example, if a person is suffering from an under-active thyroid gland, he/she may show some of the same symptoms as a person suffering from depression. However, the treatment for both of these diseases is drastically different from each other.
"When seeking diagnosis of an illness, it is paramount that a person engages in a consultation with a medical professional first and foremost to discuss their concerns and undergo the appropriate assessments to determine an accurate and timely diagnosis. Without doing so, patients pose a serious threat to their health through misdiagnosis, mistreatment and misinformation.”
Blackwell Associates Ltd is one of Northern Ireland’s leading independent occupational health providers, offering a bespoke and high quality service to clients both in the private and public sectors.
To learn more about Blackwell Associates Ltd and the health services it provides to individuals and organisations, visit blackwellassociates.co.uk or call 028 9065 6131.
Blackwell Associates can also be followed on Twitter @BwellAssociates or Facebook.
