Rosenhan 1973 Flashcards
AIM
to investigate if sane people could be distinguished from insane people using the dsm 2 classification system, and if they can be differentiated, how schizophrenia can be identified. and to see if the dsm 2 is a valid diagnostic tool
PROCEDURE
8 pseudo patients (3f 5m) were sent to 12 different hospitals across the west and east coast of America. these hospitals were a range of hospitals including new, old, private, and public funded.the pseudo patients gave the psychiatrists fake names (pseudonyms) and false symptoms when they phoned for an appointment. pseudo-patients said that they could hear an unfamiliar voice who was the same sex as themselves saying words like thud empty and hollow. apart from these details all the information the patients gave was true including details about their childhood relationships and education.
as soon as they were admitted to the hospital the patients behaved normally and said that they felt fine, free of symptoms and they were not SZ. they took part in ward activities, had conversations with staff and other patients and responded how they would normally. pseudo patients documented their experience covertly but later overtly. if asked how they felt, they would respond they felt fine and no longer felt any symptoms. in some cases pseudo patients approached staff and asked “pardon me, could you tell me when I am likely to be discharged?” when given their medication during the morning rounds the pseudo patients pocketed the pills or flushed them down the toilet .
FINDINGS
the pseudo patients were identified as insane. all pseudo patients were admitted and not one was detected as being sane. a;; but one were was diagnosed as schizophrenic and when released 7 were released with the diagnosis of “schizophrenic in remission” they stayed in hospital between 7-52 days with an average of 19 days.
IN THE HOSPITAL
30% of the 118 patients recognised that the pseudo patients were not crazy, those visiting other patients also noticed that the pseudo patients behaved “normally” and that they didn’t seem odd. when pseudo patients went to flush their medication down the toilet they would see other patients medication down in the toilet. diagnosed with oral acquisitive syndrome, pseudo patients would sue early outside the canteen for lunch due to boredom and hunger. diagnosed with pathological writing behaviour- the pseudo patients would take notes on their experiences in the institution. the pseudo patients experienced depersonalisation astray were given no privacy even in the toilet as the doors were often removed. the pseudo patients were not listened to and often ignored by staff 71% of the psychiatrists and 88% of the nurses totally ignored the question asked by the pseudo patients. the average therapist-patient contact was 7 mins a day.
CONCLUSION
staff were unable to distinguish those who were sane from those who were insane. behaviours were interpreted via the expectations expected from their beliefs and not objectively based on the behaviours being displayed. rosenhan argued that the power of a label of insanity leads to the subjective interpretation of any behaviours displayed
:) ecological validity
took place in a natural setting of 12 different hospitals, this is a familiar environment to the real patients + hospital staff so their behaviour is naturally occurring. T/F is rep of all distinguished sane to insane people and can be generalised
:) range of hospitals used
8 pseudo patients were sent to 12 different hospitals across the east and west coast of America. the hospitals ranged from new, old,public and private funded. T/F distinguishment of inane and sane people can be generalised to all of America.
:( deception
ethical guideline deception was breached as the real patients and clinicians were unaware of the pseudo patients covert observations and at first their covert note taking T/F ethical guideline of deception was breached
:( informed consent
the real mtl patients and staff were unaware they were taking part in research and so were unable to give informed consent. T/F ethical guideline of informed consent was breached
