A recent study reveals that many people receive incorrect information about depression. This misinformation from various sources can make it challenging for individuals to grasp the root causes of their emotional distress.
Psychiatric diagnoses, such as depression, are essentially descriptive labels of psychological symptoms and do not necessarily pinpoint the underlying causes. However, depression is commonly perceived as a disorder that directly leads to feelings of sadness and other symptoms.
Experts label this circular reasoning, where psychiatric diagnoses are often discussed in a way that assumes they explain the causes of symptoms. Such discourse complicates individuals’ understanding of their distress.
Jani Kajanoja, a medical doctor specializing in psychiatry at the University of Turku, likens depression to a headache in terms of diagnosis. Both are medical labels that describe a problem without detailing the root cause. Just as a headache diagnosis does not clarify the cause of head pain, a depression diagnosis does not elucidate the cause of a low mood.
A recent joint study by the University of Turku and the University of the Arts Helsinki found that mental health professionals also contribute to perpetuating this misconception.
The researchers analyzed depression information on several globally recognized health organizations’ websites. Despite being influential sources, these organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and Harvard University, often framed depression as a disorder that causes symptoms, which is not entirely accurate. None of the organizations presented depression purely as a description of symptoms, as it should be.
Kajanoja points out that portraying depression as a uniform disorder leading to depressive symptoms muddles our comprehension of mental health issues and impedes individuals’ ability to understand their distress.
The researchers propose that cognitive bias may be at the root of this problem.
Neuropsychologist Professor Jussi Valtonen from the University of the Arts Helsinki emphasizes the importance of professionals debunking the misconception that a diagnosis automatically explains the condition to help individuals better understand their mental health.
