The pentimento of the psyche: Revealing the masterpiece beneath the clinical overwrite.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: The pentimento of the psyche: Revealing the masterpiece beneath the clinical overwrite.
Source: Australasian Psychiatry. Jun2026, Vol. 34 Issue 3, p304-306. 3p.
Subjects: Psychiatric diagnosis, Self, Musical composition, Transcultural medical care, Indigenous peoples, Patient-centered care, Political refugees
Abstract: This article explores the limitations of psychiatric diagnosis as a reductive "clinical overwrite" that can obscure the full humanity and personal history of patients. Using the metaphor of pentimento—an earlier image showing beneath layers of paint—the author illustrates how psychiatric labels often mask the complex identities and narratives beneath symptoms, as exemplified by a patient whose musical past revealed a deeper self beyond his diagnosis. The piece emphasizes the importance of culturally sensitive, recovery-oriented care that respects patients’ backgrounds, particularly for Indigenous peoples and asylum seekers, and advocates for a collaborative, empathetic approach akin to art restoration. It calls for clinicians to move beyond diagnostic shorthand to engage with patients’ stories and support their individual goals within a system often constrained by time and resources. [Extracted from the article]
Copyright of Australasian Psychiatry is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 194160627
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The pentimento of the psyche: Revealing the masterpiece beneath the clinical overwrite.
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Australasian+Psychiatry%22">Australasian Psychiatry</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 34 Issue 3, p304-306. 3p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychiatric+diagnosis%22">Psychiatric diagnosis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self%22">Self</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Musical+composition%22">Musical composition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Transcultural+medical+care%22">Transcultural medical care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Indigenous+peoples%22">Indigenous peoples</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patient-centered+care%22">Patient-centered care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Political+refugees%22">Political refugees</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This article explores the limitations of psychiatric diagnosis as a reductive "clinical overwrite" that can obscure the full humanity and personal history of patients. Using the metaphor of pentimento—an earlier image showing beneath layers of paint—the author illustrates how psychiatric labels often mask the complex identities and narratives beneath symptoms, as exemplified by a patient whose musical past revealed a deeper self beyond his diagnosis. The piece emphasizes the importance of culturally sensitive, recovery-oriented care that respects patients’ backgrounds, particularly for Indigenous peoples and asylum seekers, and advocates for a collaborative, empathetic approach akin to art restoration. It calls for clinicians to move beyond diagnostic shorthand to engage with patients’ stories and support their individual goals within a system often constrained by time and resources. [Extracted from the article]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Australasian Psychiatry is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=194160627
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/10398562261444533b
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 3
        StartPage: 304
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Psychiatric diagnosis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Musical composition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Transcultural medical care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Indigenous peoples
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Patient-centered care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Political refugees
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The pentimento of the psyche: Revealing the masterpiece beneath the clinical overwrite.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 10398562
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 34
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Australasian Psychiatry
              Type: main
ResultId 1