A meaning of diagnosis to the patient's identity : part 1: between misrecognition and recognition

摘要

In the article, we reflect on different meanings and courses of recognition inudpsychiatry, in other words: on ways in which a diagnosis affects the patient’s identity. Viewpointsudof both diagnostician and the diagnosed are examined. In the case of a patient, weudtake into account an impact of the diagnosis on both personal identity (internalized patient’sudidentity, the diagnosis as new identity, impoverishment of self-image through medicalizedudlanguage of one’s own experiences’ descriptions, but also an integration of fragmentedudself-knowledge via diagnosis) and social identity (so-called post-diagnostic identities thatudexpress different attitudes towards the obtained diagnosis). When discussing post-diagnosticudidentities, we introduce the notion of insight as a mediator between the former identity andudthe identity arisen on the ground of diagnosis. The very category of insight as well as standsudof objectivity and biologism, are problematised then. There is also a place for deliberationsudon (traditional and alternative) psychiatric language in the use of not only clinicians but alsoudpatients and their families.