reliability and validity of diagnosing schizophrenia Flashcards
strength (Research to suggest diagnosis is reliable) DW
P: Jakobsen et al tested the reliability of the ICD-10 classification system in diagnosing schizophrenia.
E: A hundred Danish patients with a history of psychosis were assessed using operational criteria and a concordance rate of 98% was obtained.
E: This means that most of the patients were diagnosed correctly and therefore shows the increased validity of using the same diagnostic manual.
I: This demonstrates the high reliability of the clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia using up-to-date classification.
limitation (diagnosis is difficult): DW
P: comorbidity describes people who suffer from two or more mental disorders at the same time. For example, schizophrenia and depression are often found together.
E: This makes it more difficult to confidently diagnose schizophrenia. Comorbidity occurs because the symptoms of different disorders overlap.
E: Schizophrenia and major depression both involve low levels of motivation. problems of reliabilty
I: The impact of this is that the patients may be diagnosed incorrectly or inconsistently and unsuitable treatment may be administered. This raises practical and ethical issues when selecting different types of treatment.
limitation (gender bias in diagnosis) DW
P: There is a tendency for diagnostic criteria to be applied differently to males and females
E: Longenecker reviewed studies of the prevalence of schizophrenia. He concluded that since the 1980’s more men have been diagnosed with schizophrenia than woman and there had been no differences prior to this.
E: Men are more genetically vulnerable and females tend to function better because they have better interpersonal skills. This high functioning may have prevented a schizophrenia diagnosis as clinicians have misapplied the diagnostic criteria with men with similar symptoms.
I: This could lead to doctors misapplying the classification system based on gender and it could mean that their gender could affect the ability to diagnose which decreases the reliability of diagnosis.
limitation (cultural differences) DW
P: There are cultural differences/ bias in the diagnosis of schizophrenia
E: In Britain Afro-Caribbean’s are more likely than white people to be diagnosed with schizophrenia.
E: This cannot be due to differences in genetic vulnerability because the rates of schizophrenia aren’t higher in Africa and west Indies. Also, In African culture it is seen as acceptable to hear voices because they believe they communicating with their ancestors and so they are ready to acknowledge such experiences.
I: This means that if they were reported to clinicians with a different cultural background it could be seen as irrational and bizarre and therefore leading to incorrect diagnosis reducing the reliability and validity
