Positive effects of diagnosis. Psychologists explain

What is the Rumpelstiltskin effect?

Psychologists Prof. Alan Levinovitz and Prof. Awais Aftab, writing in the BJPsych Bulletin, describe the benefits of a medical diagnosis and argue that merely knowing the name of an illness can soothe anxiety and bring order to the mind. Before any therapy begins, a diagnosis often acts as first aid. They call this the Rumpelstiltskin effect — after the fairy-tale figure whose name held power over fear.

“The diagnosis resolves the cognitive uncertainty that accompanies unexplained suffering,” the authors write. “People with undiagnosed problems get lost in the story of their own health. A clear label gives them language to explain what they feel and helps them regain control.”

3 positive effects of diagnosis

Researchers list several benefits that a diagnosis can bring to patients:

• Easier communication with clinicians — a shared language improves understanding with specialists and streamlines care.
• Access to support groups — knowing the diagnosis opens the door to communities with similar experiences, enabling sharing and support.
• Identity building and less stigma — belonging to a community with the same diagnosis can be psychologically strengthening and reduce isolation.

Without a diagnosis — and without awareness

The authors also cite work by Prof. Miranda Fricker. She recounts the story of a woman who went a long time without a diagnosis of postpartum depression:

“In my group, people started to talk about postpartum depression. During those forty-five minutes I realized that what I had been blaming myself for — and what my husband had been blaming me for — wasn’t a weakness of character. It was a combination of physiological factors and a very real social phenomenon — isolation. Realizing this was one of those moments after which you are a feminist forever.” (Epistemic Injustice: Power and the Ethics of Knowing).

Do diagnoses always help?

Although many studies show that a diagnosis can bring relief, reality is more complicated. Sometimes what’s meant to help does the opposite. After finally receiving a diagnosis, a person may experience negative effects, such as:

• Stigma and fear — the label can provoke anxiety or a feeling of being “sick forever.”
• Fixing identity around illness — some patients begin to define themselves by the diagnosis, which can undermine agency.
• Misunderstanding the diagnosis — medical labels might ignore spiritual or cultural meanings of experiences and be misread as “abnormal.”
• Non-psychological fallout — unnecessary treatment, polypharmacy, or a lack of real help despite promises of improvement.

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The positive effects of diagnosis, used wisely

Naming a condition can relieve distress, clarify next steps, and build connection — the core positive effects of diagnosis. But labels must be used thoughtfully, with attention to stigma, culture, and the person beyond the diagnosis.

Read this article in Polish: Diagnoza leczy, zanim zacznie się terapia. Psycholodzy wyjaśnili to zjawisko