What does the term "diagnostic overshadowing" mean?

The term "diagnostic overshadowing" refers to the phenomenon where a person's mental health condition obscures or overshadows the recognition and understanding of their physical health concerns. In practice, this often means that healthcare providers may attribute all of a patient's symptoms or complaints to their diagnosed mental illness, leading to under-diagnosis or misdiagnosis of other medical conditions.

For instance, if a patient with a known mental health disorder presents physical symptoms, healthcare providers may rush to interpret those symptoms as related to the mental health issue rather than conducting a thorough investigation to rule out other possible conditions. This can result in inadequate treatment and care for physical ailments, as the mental illness takes precedence in the provider's focus. Recognizing and understanding diagnostic overshadowing is crucial for providing holistic care to patients, ensuring that both mental and physical health needs are addressed appropriately.