'Normal' Means Different Things To GPs And Patients, And It May Affect Treatment

“A doctor may be trying to say, ‘This is recognised and you are not alone’, while the patient hears, ‘There is nothing wrong and nothing can be done’.”

Let’s say you go to your doctor with a documented, ongoing case of psoriasis. You might complain of itchy and flaky skin.

To your surprise, though, your GP tells you these symptoms are “normal”. You might feel dismissed or as if your problems can’t be addressed; maybe you’ll be less likely to seek treatment.

At least, that’s what a recent study published in Nature Human Behaviour suggests.

It said that, while doctors might hope to reassure patients by calling well-understood symptoms “normal,” data shows it could actually make people with health issues think nothing can be done about their problems.

That might mean they don’t look for or ask about solutions like medications, even when they may be both available and useful.

Professor On Amir, the........

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