From autism to allergies, ADHD to long Covid, more people are being labelled with medical conditions than ever before. But can a diagnosis do us more harm than good?
The boundaries between sickness and health are being redrawn.
Mental health categories are shifting and expanding all the time, radically altering what we consider to be 'normal'. Genetic tests can now detect pathologies decades before people experience symptoms, and sometimes before they're even born. And increased health screening draws more and more people into believing they are unwell.
An accurate diagnosis can bring greater understanding and of course improved treatment.
But many diagnoses aren't as definitive as we think. And in some cases they risk turning healthy people into patients. Drawing on the stories of real people, as well as decades of clinical practice and the latest medical research, Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan overturns long held assumptions and reframes how we think about illness and health.
'Slices through the confusion with grace and compassion. I cannot say good enough things about it.' - CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN
'A brilliant study of the dangers of overdiagnosis' - GUARDIAN, book of the day
'Be prepared for compassionate and bracingly independent thinking' - THE TIMES, best books of 2025
ISBN 9781399727662
The essential toolkit to navigating dementia, supporting loved ones and caring for yourself.
Dementia is devastating. Almost a million people are currently living with the disease in the UK alone and this is set to triple by 2050. With family members often providing care, navigating treatment can be overwhelming. But there is life after diagnosis. Still Me reframes the job of caring for someone with dementia as a partnership. Both you and your loved one deserve respect, support and the latest research to help you on your journey.
Top neuroscientist and bestselling author Dr Sabina Brennan combines her professional knowledge with her personal experience of caring for her mother with dementia. With a human-rights approach that validates everyone’s experience and dignity, she offers:
– A self-care plan for care partners to cope with demands and optimise the caregiving experience
– Practical advice on how to manage challenging symptoms, stimulate cognitive function and encourage a brain-healthy lifestyle
– Evidence-based therapies to improve both you and your relative’s quality of life.
Dementia can steal many things, but it doesn’t have to take away the simple pleasures of life. Shifting the focus from the disease to the person, Still Me reminds you that your relative is still there and that you, as a care partner, are just as important.
ISBN 9781399421393