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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2020 Nov 1.
Published in final edited form as: Psychol Serv. 2018 Jul 30;16(4):687–692. doi: 10.1037/ser0000273

Table 2.

Common Themes in Reactions to Receiving Diagnosis

Theme % Endorsing Theme % of EBP Dropouts Endorsing % of EBP Refusers Endorsing
Positive Reactions 26% 15% 38%
 Validation 16%
 Hope 4%
 Proactivity 12%
Neutral Reactions 64% 65% 67%
 Already ‘knew’ they had it 28%
 Confusion 20%
 Acceptance 22%
 Uncertain how to feel 4%
Negative Reactions 42% 42% 42%
 Denial 22%
 Shock 18%
 Fear of stigma 10%
 Anger 2%

Note: EBP = evidence-based psychotherapies.