diagnosis and classification A03 (have to know all points)

Question 1

what are the 6 headings for the evaluation points for the diagnosis and classification of SZ

Answer 1

+ good reliability

• low validity
  (counterpoint)
• co morbidity
• gender bias
• culture bias

-symptom overlap

Question 2

explain good reliability in terms of diagnosis and classification of SZ

Answer 2

• reliability is the extent to which a measuring device is consistent
• Osorio report (2019) found excellent reliability for diagnosis of SZ in 180 individuals using DSM 5

pairs of interviewers achieved +0.97 inter-rater reliability and +0.92 test-retest reliability

can be reasonably sure the diagnosis of SZ are consistently applied

Question 3

explain poor validity in terms of diagnosis and classification of SZ

Answer 3

validity = considers how accurate, meaningful, and useful a diagnosis is

2 psychiatrists independently assessed 100 clients using ICD - 10 and DSM -5 criteria

68 diagnosed with SZ under ICD system
39 diagnosed under DSM system

this suggests SZ is either under or over-diagnosed

this suggests criterion validity is low

(COUNTERPOINT - criterion validity is good for diagnosis as long as the same diagnostic system is being used)

Question 4

explain co morbidity in terms of diagnosis and classification of SZ

Answer 4

SZ is often diagnosed wih other conditions

1/2 with SZ hd a diagnosis of depression or substance abuse

may be a problem for classification as it may mean SZ may not exist as a single condition

Question 5

explain gender bias in terms of diagnosis and classification of SZ

Answer 5

• men have been diagnosed with SZ more commonly than women
• women are less vulnerable than men due to genetic factors
• women are underdiagnosed as have closer relationships and get support

leads to women with SZ functioning better than men with SZ

Question 6

explain culture bias in terms of diagnosis and classification of SZ

Answer 6

hearing voices mean different things in different cultures

in Haiti - some believe voices are communications from ancestors

British people of African-Caribbean origin are 9 times as likely to receive a diagnosis as white British people

there is culture bias in diagnosis which leads to an overrepresentation of symptoms in black British people. This means British African Caribbean people may be discriminated against by a culturally biased diagnostic system

Question 7

explain symptom overlap in terms of diagnosis and classification of SZ

Answer 7

both SZ and bipolar involve positive symptoms (e.g: delusions)
and negative symptoms (avolition)

suggests SZ and BPD may not be different conditions but variations of a single condition

hard to distinguish SZ from BPD in diagnosis