Emotional Odyssey

The Mental Health Impact Of A Rare Disease Diagnosis.

Project Background

The phrase 'diagnostic odyssey' is well known among those in the rare disease community, with a long and convoluted path to a definitive diagnosis being all too common. Sadly, the moment that a diagnosis is made does not automatically alleviate the emotional burden on patients and their families. It is psychologically complex and can pose an equivalent emotional odyssey' all of its own.

While this impact is recognized, there was no one place where all the current evidence and good practice was drawn together.

During 2021, RBW Consulting partnered with Rare Disease Research Partners, an organization focused specifically on supporting research and access to treatment for people living with rare conditions, and worked with a wide range of experts within the field, to try and change that.

Contributors

We are grateful to the following individuals and organizations who have contributed to the project with their opinion, experience, peer review and support:

Jo Balfour

Cambridge Rare Disease Network

Kathleen Bogart

School of Psychological Science, Oregon State University

Dr Ronny Cheung

Consultant & Head of Service for General Paediatrics at Evelina London Children's Hospital

Albert Freedman

Freedman Counselling Associates

Claire Garthwaite

With Mindfulness

Susie Henley

Neurofibromatosis Centre, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

Stacy Hurt

Independent Consultant

Lucy McKay

Medics4RareDiseases

Shehla Mohammed

Clinical Genetics, Guy’s Hospital

Jill Walton

Rare Dementia Support, National Brain Appeal

Kym Winter

RaremindsCIC

Deborah Woodman

Department of Psychology, Evelina London

What the project involved & the future ambition

The scope of the project primarily focused on diagnoses of rare diseases made in infancy and early childhood, although the findings and their implications are likely to be more widely applicable.

The project comprised two key stages :-

A systematic literature review

Relevant articles sourced using the electronic database PubMed, and reference listing.

Development of a Statement of Good Practice

Raising awareness and providing guidance for healthcare and other supporting professionals and organizations.

Throughout the process, contributions were sought from a wide range of relevant perspectives, including families living with a rare disease and healthcare professionals with expertise spanning clinical psychology, paediatrics, genetics and mental health support.

These resources are now being actively disseminated within the rare disease community, through multiple channels including peer review publication. They are freely available to anyone with an interest in supporting patients and their families at this key point in their rare disease journey, and our hope is that they will be used to support the future development of services, initiatives, and programmes delivered by the wide range of organizations involved - providing both a strong evidence base and practical advice too.