Diagnosis and treatment: Are psychiatrists choosing wisely?

Abstract

SummaryThe UK's Choosing Wisely campaign aims to tackle the pressing issue of overuse in healthcare (i.e. overdiagnosis and overtreatment) through improving awareness and promoting shared decisionmaking. This campaign involves medical societies developing lists of interventions that are of questionable value and so require a genuine discussion between doctors and patients about their use. This article is about the problem of overuse and the launch of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Choosing Wisely campaign. It provides a critical review of why this might occur and whether Choosing Wisely is likely to be successful.Learning Objectives• Understand the aims of the Choosing Wisely programme• Define overdiagnosis and overtreatment• Develop a critical perspective on potential areas of overuse in your clinical practice