Publications and Research
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Spring 2022
Abstract
Spring 2022 ENG 120 Student Final Research Paper on the medical norm of psychiatric misdiagnosis throughout the diagnostic journeys of rare disease patients. The idea of a norm was taken from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Tedx Talk "The Danger of a Single Story". Paper discusses prevalence, harmful effects, and origin of this medical norm. Includes discussion of statistical data quoted relating to prevalence of rare diseases as well as anecdotal evidence of the severe ramifications of this norm. Discussion of how medically unexplained symptoms such as mysterious chronic pain often lead to the phenomenon of the psychogenic inference. Origins of this norm are traced back to the historic concept of hysteria which can be dated back to Hippocrates in the 5th century BCE and emerged from misogynistic stereotypes regarding women. Paper won 1st place prize in the 2023 Hunter College Millenson Library Research Award in the 100 level category.
Included in
Disability Studies Commons, Health Psychology Commons, Integrative Medicine Commons, Medical Pathology Commons, Mental Disorders Commons, Other Psychiatry and Psychology Commons, Pain Management Commons, Primary Care Commons, Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases Commons