Sheer embarrassment prevents many patients from telling their doctor about serious threats such as abuse or suicidality, a study shows.

Among 4500 adults in two surveys of non-disclosure, more than a quarter failed to tell their clinician — including doctors, nurses or physician assistants — that they had been sexually assaulted, abused, were depressed or had suicidal thoughts. 

Abuse was the most commonly withheld ‘imminent threat’.

Embarrassment was the reason given for more than 70% of all non-disclosures, followed by not wanting to be judged or lectured, not wanting to engage in ‘difficult’ follow-up such as seeing a therapist, and not wanting the information in their medical records.