Communication of a mental health diagnosis: a systematic synthesis and narrative review
Background: There is limited understanding of the mechanisms used to effectively communicate with service-users about their mental health diagnoses. Aims: To conduct a systematic synthesis of studies that present data on the communication of a psychiatric diagnosis. Methods: Comprehensive database a...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Informa Healthcare
2014
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/15213 |
| _version_ | 1848748832556318720 |
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| author | Milton, A. Mullan, Barbara |
| author_facet | Milton, A. Mullan, Barbara |
| author_sort | Milton, A. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: There is limited understanding of the mechanisms used to effectively communicate with service-users about their mental health diagnoses. Aims: To conduct a systematic synthesis of studies that present data on the communication of a psychiatric diagnosis. Methods: Comprehensive database and manual searches were conducted resulting in the inclusion of 30 quantitative and qualitative papers. Results: The majority of studies were descriptive. The rate of service-users being informed of their diagnosis has increased over the past decade. Consumer communication preferences were not always satisfactorily addressed in practice. Individual characteristics of service-users and clinicians influenced whether a diagnostic discussion took place. Results from intervention studies aimed at facilitating diagnostic communication reported significant improvements in service-user satisfaction and mood and clinician communication skills. Conclusions: This review highlights a gap in the system of communication between clinicians and service-users. To assist clinicians to talk effectively with individuals about their mental health, communication protocols and training need to be further developed and assessed. Such developments would benefit from well-designed randomised controlled trial protocols, should incorporate service-users’ preferences and address stigma-related concerns. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:11:19Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-15213 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:11:19Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publisher | Informa Healthcare |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-152132017-09-13T15:04:46Z Communication of a mental health diagnosis: a systematic synthesis and narrative review Milton, A. Mullan, Barbara mental health Breaking bad news diagnosis communication models Background: There is limited understanding of the mechanisms used to effectively communicate with service-users about their mental health diagnoses. Aims: To conduct a systematic synthesis of studies that present data on the communication of a psychiatric diagnosis. Methods: Comprehensive database and manual searches were conducted resulting in the inclusion of 30 quantitative and qualitative papers. Results: The majority of studies were descriptive. The rate of service-users being informed of their diagnosis has increased over the past decade. Consumer communication preferences were not always satisfactorily addressed in practice. Individual characteristics of service-users and clinicians influenced whether a diagnostic discussion took place. Results from intervention studies aimed at facilitating diagnostic communication reported significant improvements in service-user satisfaction and mood and clinician communication skills. Conclusions: This review highlights a gap in the system of communication between clinicians and service-users. To assist clinicians to talk effectively with individuals about their mental health, communication protocols and training need to be further developed and assessed. Such developments would benefit from well-designed randomised controlled trial protocols, should incorporate service-users’ preferences and address stigma-related concerns. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/15213 10.3109/09638237.2014.951474 Informa Healthcare fulltext |
| spellingShingle | mental health Breaking bad news diagnosis communication models Milton, A. Mullan, Barbara Communication of a mental health diagnosis: a systematic synthesis and narrative review |
| title | Communication of a mental health diagnosis: a systematic synthesis and narrative review |
| title_full | Communication of a mental health diagnosis: a systematic synthesis and narrative review |
| title_fullStr | Communication of a mental health diagnosis: a systematic synthesis and narrative review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Communication of a mental health diagnosis: a systematic synthesis and narrative review |
| title_short | Communication of a mental health diagnosis: a systematic synthesis and narrative review |
| title_sort | communication of a mental health diagnosis: a systematic synthesis and narrative review |
| topic | mental health Breaking bad news diagnosis communication models |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/15213 |