Plug, L, Sharrack, B and Reuber, M (2010) Seizure, Fit or Attack? The Use of Diagnostic Labels by Patients with Epileptic or Non-epileptic Seizures. Applied Linguistics, 31 (1). 94 - 114. ISSN 0142-6001
Abstract
We present an analysis of the use of diagnostic labels such as seizure, attack, fit and blackout by patients who experience seizures. While previous research on patients’ preferences for diagnostic terminology has relied on questionnaires, we assess patients’ own preferences and their responses to a doctor’s use of different labels through the qualitative and quantitative analysis of doctor-patient interactions in a realistic clinical setting. We also examine whether two subgroups of patients – those with epileptic seizures and those with (psychogenic) non-epileptic seizures – show different behaviours in this respect. Our findings suggest firstly that patients make fine lexical distinctions between the various diagnostic labels they use to describe their seizure experiences; secondly, that patients play an active role in the development and application of labels for their medical complaint; and thirdly, that attention to patients’ lexical choices and interactive use or avoidance of labels can be relevant for the differential diagnosis of seizures.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Applied Linguistics following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version Plug, L, Sharrack, B and Reuber, M (2010) Seizure, Fit or Attack? The Use of Diagnostic Labels by Patients with Epileptic or Non-epileptic Seizures. Applied Linguistics, 31 (1). 94 - 114. ISSN 0142-6001 is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/applin/amp012 |
Keywords: | Illness Representations; Membership Categorization; Common-Sense; Model; Pseudoseizures; Perceptions; Perspective; Disorders; Symptoms |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > School of Languages Cultures & Societies (Leeds) > Linguistics & Phonetics (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 29 Nov 2013 10:41 |
Last Modified: | 29 Mar 2018 16:22 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/applin/amp012 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
Identification Number: | 10.1093/applin/amp012 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:77068 |