Classic study: Rosenhan (1973)

Question 1

What was Rosenhan’s aim?

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Answer 1

• Prove mental disorders lie not w individual but within person making the diagnosis

Question 2

How was the initial procedure conducted?

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Answer 2

• People of varying professions (painter, psychiatrist) = pseudopatients (3F, 5M inc Rosenhan)
• Each at psych hospital complain of same symptom
• Said to hear same-sex, unfamiliar voice that said ‘empty’, ‘hollow’, ‘thud’ terms not linked to schizo
• If asked, said they were no longer hearing voices
• Patients went to 12 hospitals (old, new, well/under-staffed, private)
• Once admitted, patients behaved normal following initial period of nervousness
• To be released = had to convince staff they were sane, behaved cooperatively, chatted w other patients

Question 3

What did Rosenhan find in his initial study?

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Answer 3

• All patients admitted to hospitals (7 diagnosed w schizo, 1 bipolar)
• When released, said to have schizo in remission
• 30% real patients in ward suspicious of new patients thinking they were journalists checking on hospital
• Hospitalisation ranged from 7-52 days

Question 4

What did Rosenhan conclude?

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Answer 4

• Hospital environment = situational factors, meant people seen as insane (depersonalisation and segregation)
• Overdiagnosis = clinicians avoided calling sick person healthy as dangerous

Question 5

Evaluate Rosenhan

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Answer 5

> Generalisability, majority = ^skilled pros. Those in psych = knew^ how to act saner, understand symp of schizo/diagnosis process. Cater behaviour aversely. Housewife = unaware of symp, unintentionally show signs, ^hospitalisation. Scattered result (7-52d)

^Ext reliability. Slater replicated at 9 wards, found often diagnosed w psych depression, prescribed many meds. Not era bound

Clinicians = felt incompetent (psych harm), real patients discrim as clinicians thought = ‘fake’ (psych harm), rep of psychiatry = v damaged = vulnerable people failing to seek support