Schizophrenia - issues in the diagnosis

Question 1

What are the advantages of schizophrenia diagnosis

Answer 1

Can access appropriate therapies (antipsychotics or family), removal of symptoms begins recovery process

Question 2

What are the disadvantages of schizophrenia diagnosis

Answer 2

Disempowerment, as their lack of knowledge on their condition leaves them to believe they are not in control of tiger own lives. Labelling, leads to stigma which affects recovery processes. Social exclusion, stigma and stereotypes

Question 3

What is inter rater reliability

Answer 3

Occurs when clinicians make identical, independent diagnosis of the same patient with schizophrenia

Question 4

What study conducted by Beck et al relates to inter rater reliability

Answer 4

Group of 153 schizophrenic patients were each assessed by 2 psychiatrists with agreement rate of only 54%

Question 5

What study conducted by Copeland relates to inter rater reliability

Answer 5

Gave description of patient to 134US and 194 British psychiatrists. 69% diagnosis by US, and 2% diagnosis by British, showing culture threatens consistency

Question 6

What is test retest reliability

Answer 6

Occurs when clinicians make the same diagnosis of the same patient on separate occasions

Question 7

What research was conducted by Farmer et al into schizophrenia (evaluation point)

Answer 7

Found standardised interview technique known as Present state examination (PSE), which increases reliability by focusing on frequency and severity of symptoms (patients asked same questions)

Question 8

What did Read suggest about schizophrenia diagnosis

Answer 8

Test retest analysis is as low as 37% for schizophrenia, which could concerningly create many false positives and negatives

Question 9

What is validity

Answer 9

The extent to which we are measuring what we are intending to measure

Question 10

What validity affected by in schizophrenia

Answer 10

Comorbidity and overlapping symptoms

Question 11

What is comorbidity

Answer 11

More thane disorder which exist alongside a primary diagnosis

Question 12

What are overlapping symptoms

Answer 12

Symptoms relevant to other disorders not exclusively to schizophrenia, reducing validity of diagnosis

Question 13

What did Buckley et al find about the validity of schizophrenia (evaluation point)

Answer 13

Following symptoms were comorbid with schizophrenia:
- Panic disorder = 15%
- PTSD = 29%
- OCD = 23%
- Depression = 50%
- Substance abuse = 47% (can develop positive symptoms of schizophrenia but may be diagnosed with substance abuse)

Question 14

What did Konstantareas and Hewitt find about the validity of schizophrenia (evaluation point)

Answer 14

14 male autistic patients and 14 male patients with schizophrenia. Found no autistic symptoms in schizophrenic patients, but 50% of schizophrenic symptoms in the autistic patients

Question 15

How does the DSM improve validity of schizophrenia diagnosis (evaluation point)

Answer 15

DSM V states patients must have two or more symptoms for at least one month, with one being either hallucinations, disorganised speech or delusions. Makes diagnosis more accurate

Question 16

What did Rosenham study in relation to schizophrenia

Answer 16

12 psychiatric hospitals across US, 8 pseudo patients, 5 men, 3 women of various ages and occupations, Rosenham was one of them.
Method: naturalistic observation where pseudo patients had to say they heard voices of “thud”, “empty”, and “hollow”. Once admitted to hospital, they told staff they felt well. Made notes of their data collected firstly in secret then openly, which was seen as a symptom.
Results: 7/8 were admitted to hospital, length of stay was 7-52 days until staff believed they were sane (average 19). Were still labelled as schizophrenic after hospitals were informed it was a study. Shows low validity with high levels of false positives (diagnosing a healthy person)