Rosenhan Flashcards
Rosenhan (73) Aim
To see if the sane could be distinguished from the insane using the DSM classification system and, if they can be differentiated, how sanity can be identified.
Rosenhan number of patients and hospitals
8 pseudo-patients to 12 different hospitals. The group consisted of 3 women and 5 men.
Rosenhan what the patients said
All gave false names and said they could hear an unfamiliar voice saying ‘empty’, ‘hollow’ and ‘thud’. Apart from that, all the information he pseudo-patients gave was true, including details about relationships, childhood etc.
Rosenhan activities after being admitted to hospital.
Once admitted to psychiatric ward the patients stopped any abnormal symptoms. They took part in ward activities; spoke to staff and fellow patients normally. Some wrote down their observations and if asked how they felt said they felt fine and some asked when it is likely they will be discharged.
Rosenhan Results
All the pseudo-patients were admitted, and none was detected as being sane.
Rosenhan length of stay
They stayed in the hospital for between 7 and 52 days, with the average being 19 days
Rosenhan Suspicious
In 3 hospitals, 35 out of 118 patients were suspicious about the insanity of the pseudo-patients.
Rosenhan Conclusion
Rosenhan concluded that staff in psychiatric hospitals were unable to distinguish between those who were sane from those who were insane, and that DSM was therefore not a valid measurement of metal illness at that time.
Rosenhan Ecologically valid?
The study was carried out in actual psychiatric hospitals, using real staff, so it has ecological validity.
Rosenhan Generalisabiliy
As a range of hospitals were used from around the country, including old and new, the findings could be generalized to other psychiatric hospitals at the time.
Rosenhan Validity
The number of days the pseudo-patients stayed in hospital is an objective measurement, and the fact that the pseudo-patients could see what life was like from a patient’s perspective adds validity.
Rosenhan subjectivity?
Some subjectivity and the emotions of the patients could have influenced the observations.
Rosenhan Ethical issues?
Staff deceived about patient’s symptoms, nor were they able to give consent.
All doctors tend to play safe and go for the most serious or common diagnosis before ruling it out, rather than immediately trying to see if the patient is faking it.
Rosenhan DSM
Psychiatrists point out that DSM had been revised since the study.
Rosenhan - Spitzer
Spitzer ague the diagnosis in remission was how the patients behaved not the fact the psychiatrists couldn’t’’t tell they were normal.
