The diagnosis of depression is based on a set of symptoms, but it does not provide a causal explanation for these symptoms. A recent study by Jane Kajanoja and Jussi Valtonen found that leading health organizations, such as the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association, often present depression as a condition that causes its symptoms, which is scientifically inaccurate and misleading. This practice on authoritative health websites perpetuates a fundamental misunderstanding about the nature of psychiatric diagnoses.
The researchers analyzed the content of leading mental health websites and discovered that a majority inaccurately depict depression as causing the symptoms it describes. This circular reasoning is not only scientifically flawed but also potentially harmful, as it obscures the true nature of mental health issues and reinforces stigma. The study calls for health organizations to provide clearer, more accurate information that distinguishes between descriptive diagnoses and causal explanations.
The classification of psychiatric diagnoses is a topic of ongoing debate. While medical diagnoses typically identify a specific cause, such as a microbe or tumor, psychiatric diagnoses like depression are defined solely by their symptoms and lack an identifiable underlying pathology. This distinction is often misunderstood, leading people to incorrectly assume that diagnoses like depression cause the symptoms they describe. A descriptive diagnosis of depression lists the symptoms observed, whereas a causal explanation identifies the underlying reasons for those symptoms; conflating the two can mislead people into thinking the diagnosis explains the cause, which can hinder proper understanding and treatment.
The study by Kajanoja and Valtonen analyzed the content of prominent health websites, focusing on the portrayal of depression. They found that among the selected sites, 53% described depression as causing the very symptoms it is meant to describe, such as the World Health Organization stating that depression “can cause the affected person to suffer greatly and function poorly.” This type of causal language misleads the public by implying that the diagnosis itself causes the symptoms rather than describing them.
The findings suggest that misleading information is widespread among trusted health authorities, which may have several negative consequences. Misleading causal claims can prevent people from finding the real sources of their distress, discourage them from understanding their mental health issues, and promote negative outcomes. In addition, these erroneous beliefs can impair clinicians’ ability to respond to patients with compassion, as they obscure the true nature of mental distress and its links to personal history and cultural context.
The study calls for a shift in how psychiatric diagnoses are communicated, advocating for a clearer distinction between describing symptoms and explaining their causes. This distinction is crucial for fostering accurate public understanding, improving mental health literacy, and guiding more effective and compassionate clinical practices. The findings contribute to the ongoing debate about the limitations of current psychiatric classification systems and highlight the need for scientifically accurate, transparent communication in mental health care.
