Diagnostic overshadowing of mental health conditions in UK health care

Purpose Diagnostic overshadowing (DO) may be contributing to the worsening physical health outcomes for people diagnosed with mental health (MH) conditions. DO is a phenomenon researched worldwide, but there has been no systematic review of the evidence for its prevalence in UK health care. This paper aims to add to this body of knowledge, expanding the understanding of what factors are contributing to the poor physical well-being of people with diagnosed MH conditions. Design/methodology/approach A systematic search of three databases was conducted and after evaluation, three studies were selected for the review. Findings DO was found to have a high prevalence with structural, staffing and patient issues identified through a thematic analysis. Contemporary evidence shows themes identified are still impacting UK health care. Collaborative working across mental and physical health teams, thorough and lengthy assessments, and improved education for physical health care staff have been cited as mitigating factors to this practice. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first review of the evidence for diagnostic overshadowing taking place in UK health care.