diagnosis and categorisation Flashcards
in terms of reliability, what does the term ‘inter-related reliability mean?’
how to independent observers agree
in terms of reliability, what does the term ‘test-retest reliability’ mean?
taking the same test twice and seeing how similar the scores are
in terms of reliability, what does the term ‘alternate form reliability’ mean?
the degree to which two different tests aiming to measure the same thing give similar results such as two scales measuring anxiety
in terms of reliability, what does the term ‘internal consistency reliability’ mean?
the degree to which items on a test are related to one another. For example, one would expect the items on an anxiety questionnaire to correlate with one another, if they truly tap anxiety.
what does the term ‘validity’ mean?
does an instrument measure what we want it to measure?
what does the term ‘content validity’ mean?
the measure adequately measures what it wants to measure. e.g. social anxiety scale measure social anxiety, not depression.
what does the term ‘reliability’ mean?
the consistency of measurement.
can you explain how DSM diagnoses lack in reliability and validity?
many criteria are subjective, and there remains room for diagnostic disagreement in DSM-5
What are 5 advantages of DSM and categorical classification systems?
- a RELIABLE system to standardise diagnoses, research and treatment across the world.
- Facilitates COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CLINICIANS and guides treatment attempts
- informed by RESEARCH EVIDENCE, rather than anecdotal clinical experience
- receiving a diagnosis allows individuals to receive appropriate SUPPORT and treatment
- ‘THEORY-FREE’: not influenced by ideology or theories of causation
what are 4 disadvantages/criticism of the DSM-5?
- NUMBER of diagnoses continues to increase
- Should relatively COMMON REACTIONS be pathologized?
- POOR DISCRIMINATIVE VALIDITY: 45% of people diagnosed with one dis meet criteria for a 2nd dis - many psychotic symptoms are shared among diff dis’
- MISDIAGNOSES AND OVER-DIAGNOSES: misdiagnosis can hinder treatment attempts and further exploration of issues
what is categorical classification?
one threshold with actual, hard boundaries. A threshold can provide helpful treatment guidance (do you have high blood pressure or not?)
what is dimensional classification?
the degree to which an entity that is present (i.e. severity) - a way to also describe subthreshold symptoms, severity ratings.
What is a problem with the DSM about how it’s atheoretical?
it’s meant to be atheoretical and value-free to be more reliable.
however, it’s the closest to the biological approach, even though it disregards biological markers.
disregards the developmental approach - but development is not simply a theory.
words like ‘disorder’, ‘dysfunction’ ‘subaverage’, don’t really have a clear definition!
what are the 4 characteristics of stigma?
-> distinguishing label is applied
-> label refers to undesirable attributes
-> people with the label are seen as different
-> people with the label are discriminated against
what are 4 overall criticisms of the medical model (anti-psychiatry)?
- pathologizing of human experience
- diagnosis as a form of social control (power imbalance which opens to abuse)
- disorder judged to be within the individual, rather than in the interactions with dysfunctional families/societies
- unconfirmed scientific grounds for claims in psychopathology
