The Age of Diagnosis
By Suzanne O’Sullivan
Review written by Louise Cannon
The Age of Diagnosis is a fascinating read on autism, ADHD, Huntingtons, Lyme Disease and more… Find out more in the blurb and my thoughts in my review below and more about the author, Suzanne O’Sullivan who is very qualified to speak about what is in the content of this book, she herself sounds an interesting person, so her bio is worth a read…
Blurb
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK
A BEST BOOK OF 2025 IN THE TIMES, GUARDIAN, LONDON STANDARD, NEW STATESMAN AND IRISH TIMES
‘Covers so many topics that have been troubling me but I hadn’t been able to resolve myself – as a parent and a clinician. An absolutely absorbing read’ – CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN
‘A brilliant study of the dangers of overdiagnosis’ – GUARDIAN
‘Compassionate and bracingly independent thinking’ – THE TIMES
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.
*As heard on Good Morning Britain, Sky News, Radio 4 Today and more.*
Review
Dr. Suzanne O’Sullivan has written a fascinatingly balanced book that’s been incredibly well-researched to the point where she has gained real people’s permission to tell their stories of diagnosis, the impact that’s had on their lives, both negative and positive.
The book could have been dry, but its not, its very readable and also, rather importantly, easy to understand. It’s written with a mix of factual evidence and anecdotes from the people she interviewed in a clear, concise manner. At no point do you feel too bogged down with anything.
This is a book that is such a fascinating read and from someone who has all the relevant expertise and you really feel like you’re picking up information from someone highly knowledgeable from the work she does. She certainly puts a different perspective on things.
About the author
I am a London based neurologist who cares deeply about reducing the stigma of psychosomatic disorders and normalising the reality of the mind-body connection and the havoc it can wreak. I campaign for healthcare improvements and long to see time spent with medical professionals better resourced to improve diagnosis and patient satisfaction. Technology is great – but people make people feel better.
I was born in Dublin but am now London based as a specialist at the National Hospital for neurology and Neurosurgery. I longed to be a writer since I was a child but didn’t actually start writing until I hit my forties and decided I had to realise the dream or give it up. So I realised it! My first book, It’s All in your Head was inspired by how difficult it had been to watch my patients struggle with serious psychosomatic disability with each feeling they were alone. Knowing this was a difficult subject, I was really touched by how the book was received and was honoured to be awarded the Wellcome Book Prize for it. I have since written Brainstorm that teaches people about the brain through stories of people with epilepsy and The Sleeping Beauties about mass psychogenic illness.
Stories are powerful. I have been honoured to have been told many thousands of stories over my lifetime, first as a doctor and now as a writer. I continue to work as a full time doctor and continue to try to effect change through the stories I’m told. My latest obsession is with medical overdiagnosis which has seen me write the Age of Diagnosis which tells the brave and nuanced stories of some incredible people who have both benefitted from and struggled through all that modern diagnosis has to offer.
Bookmarks and Stages by Lou 