Half of mentally ill patients not diagnosed

MORE than half of mentally-ill patients receive no diagnosis and are ignorant of the side-effects of medication, according to a survey.

Carried out by the Irish Advocacy Network (IAN), the survey found 15% of participants knew they suffered depression, and 9% schizophrenia, but 53% said they were not told what their condition was. This lack of information was one of their main frustrations, and 45% said they needed more time with their consultant psychiatrist.

Another 67% said they were not properly briefed on the side-effects of medication.