Abstract
Objective: There is an extensive corpus of knowledge about how misinformation may distort autobiographical memories. A diagnostic error can be conceptualised as a form of misinformation.
Methods: The authors discuss the case of a 58-year-old woman who was given a misdiagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
Results: The patient was deeply convinced that the diagnosis was correct, even when she was confronted with contradictory evidence.
Conclusion: A diagnosis is not a neutral piece of information. It profoundly affects the lives of patients. The consequences of a misdiagnosis may be similar to persistent false memories.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 60-62 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Acta Neuropsychiatrica |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2012 |
Keywords
- Alzheimer's disease
- cognition
- memory
- stress