Lynn Edlen-Nezin, PhD

Lynn Edlen-Nezin, PhD, is director of behavioral science in strategic services for Grey Healthcare Group in New York.

Low health literacy is widely recognized as a public health issue that affects access to care for people of all ages, races, and income levels. However, the stigma experienced by people with "diseases of denial"-such as erectile dysfunction (ED), HIV/AIDS, herpes, mental illness, and constipation-is an equally insidious, yet less tangible obstacle to seeking medical treatment. When low health literacy and denial coexist, the barriers to care can be overwhelming.