SCHIZOPHRENIA ( RELIABITY & VALIDITY OF DIAGNOSIS & CLASSIFICATION) Flashcards
Outline Co- morbidity and evaluate why it is an issue in the diagnosis/classification of Schizophrenia
Co-morbidity refers to the extent that two or more conditions pf diseases occur simultaneously in a patient eg. schz and depression
One issue with diagnosis and/or classification of schz is Co-morbidity.
EVIDENCE : Buckety et al (2009) schz shows 50% also having OCD , depression
This is a limitation because consistency of the diagnosis is questioned. It is a problem because it could lead to inaccurate diagnosis in the first place.
However self medication ( substance abuse) to escape schz symptoms , shared symptoms , genes , trauma.
Outline Symptom Overlap and evaluate why it is an issue in the diagnosis/classification of Schizophrenia
Symptom overlap refers to the fact that symptoms of a disorder may not be unique to that disorder but may also be found in other disorders , making accurate diagnosis difficult .
A issue with the diagnosis and/or classification of Sz is symptom overlap
Evidence of this can be found in Bentall’s study ( significant cross-over bet schz and bi-polar)
This limits and questions if schizophrenia is one disorder or if it is a spectrum of other disorders. This is a problem because there is no biological marker , no means of validating diagnosis 0.11 correlation bet Psychiatrists diagnosing schizophrenia
On the other hand this can happen with physical disorders too , so not only happens in the psychiatric world .
Outline Gender bias and evaluate why it is an issue in the diagnosis/classification of Schizophrenia
Gender bias refers to the tendency to describe the behaviour of men and women in a way that may not be represent accurately the characteristics of either one of these genders.
One issue of diagnosis/classification of sz is Gender bias. Evidence of this can be found in research by Loving and Powell , 290 M and F compared to diagnostic criteria.
This limits reliability because if both patients meet the criteria but only one is diagnosed reliability of results of questioned.
It is a problem because it could lead to underdiagnosed women , most likely to be diagnosed with depression or anxiety.
On the other hand more males than females have schizophrenia.
Outline Culture bias and evaluate why it is an issue in the diagnosis/classification of Schizophrenia
Culture bias - the tendency to interpret and judge in terms of the distinctive values, beliefs, and other characteristics of the society or community to which one belongs.
One issue in diagnosis/classification of Schz is Culture bias. Evidence can be found in the Blake study , found that psychiatrists were 6x more likely to give a Sz diagnosis when the patient was another culture than white.
This is a limitation because results are inconsistent and ethics are questioned. Side effects of a condition they may not have impacting their lives. ( implications of treatment )
It is a problem because it could lead to AC communities being diagnosed with Schz when they don’t have it.
On the other hand AC communities are more likely to have Schz than white
