Forer Effect

Abstract

Evie was a 45-year-old woman who presented with a panoply of symptoms, which included fatigue, weight gain, “brain fog,” decreased libido, loss of energy, difficulty falling asleep, joint pains, poor concentration, and anxiety. She had seen multiple different clinicians who had ordered a large number of tests and images, none of which had revealed the cause of her symptoms. A friend of hers suggested she take an online test for “adrenal fatigue.” She found that she had “nearly every symptom.” She contacted the clinician who had designed the test who confirmed the diagnosis after an in-person consultation.