Experts discover bizarre drug-free way to relieve pain

Being given a medical diagnosis can itself bring relief from pain—even when it doesn’t lead to treatment, experts say.

Experts from James Madison University and Case Western Reserve University say that putting a label on a problem can make symptoms easier to bear, a phenomenon they have dubbed the ‘Rumpelstiltskin Effect’. 

The name comes from the fairy tale character whose powers vanished once his secret name was revealed.

Patients often describe feeling a wave of relief after finally receiving a diagnosis—whether for a neurodevelopmental condition such as ADHD or autism, or something as everyday as a stress headache.

Professor Alan Levinovitz and Dr Awais Aftab, who are leading calls for the effect to be studied in more depth, say the cases highlight a ‘neglected’ medical phenomenon.

Although research into the effect remains limited, previous studies suggest that naming a condition can have real benefits.

A 2021 review led by researchers at Bond University in Australia found that giving patients a clinical label often brought relief, validation and empowerment. 

It also reduced self-blame and in some cases improved pain management.

Another study found that patients with unexplained symptoms improved when their GP gave them a clear diagnosis and a positive outlook, compared to those who were left without answers.

Experts say that while labels can sometimes be stigmatising, for many people the simple act of naming what they are experiencing helps to take away uncertainty – and with it, some of the suffering.

Intriguingly, patients reported improvements in symptoms regardless of whether they received treatment—leading experts to believe there are significant health benefits from simply naming a condition.

The age of social media has also seen a surge in self-diagnosis, driven by influencers encouraging followers to push for formal medical assessments. 

While this may simply reflect greater awareness of complex health conditions such as ADHD, researchers suggest that the therapeutic power of labelling certain behaviours and symptoms could itself be fuelling the trend.

Writing in the journal BJ Psych Bulletin, the researchers explained: ‘A clinical diagnosis invites patients to see their experiences through a medical lense.

‘This diagnosis functions not only as a medical label but also as a social tool for making previously unarticulated suffering comprehensible.

‘Additionally, diagnoses provide patients with a shared language that facilitates communication with healthcare providers and connects them to supportive communities of individuals facing similar challenges.’

They added that in most cases a diagnosis offers ‘hope and reassurance’, allowing a person to take on the ‘sick role’ from which an expectation of recovery is substantiated.

However, they also warned of potential harms, noting that in some cases a diagnosis can ‘threaten and devalue a person’s self-identity’, leading to stigma and social isolation.

‘For instance, a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder could lead a person to engage in more avoidance behaviours, mistakenly believing that they will be overwhelmed, with  the avoidance creating a vicious cycle of persisting anxiety’, they added.

The researchers hope their findings will make healthcare professionals more aware of the power of diagnosis, but admit there is not yet enough clinical evidence to fully prove the phenomenon.

Their theory comes amid a surge of self-diagnosis, particularly around so-called ‘hidden’ ADHD.

Some scientists estimate that as many as one in four adults now believe they have the condition, fuelled by a wave of social media posts. 

Yet studies suggest fewer than one in 20 people in the UK actually meet the criteria for ADHD—a disorder marked by difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.

Experts warn this mismatch raises concerns that other conditions with overlapping symptoms, such as anxiety or depression, may be overlooked.

While specialists agree that open conversation can help to reduce stigma around mental health, they stress that influencers and content creators are rarely qualified to diagnose.

‘If you’re watching videos on social media and it makes you think that you may meet criteria for the disorder, I would encourage you to seek an evaluation from a psychologist or a psychiatrist or a physician to get it checked out,’ said Professor Justin Barterian, a psychologist at Ohio State University.