Validity of diagnosis Flashcards
What is comorbidity?
Refers to when more than one disorder or disease exists alongside a primary diagnosis, for example when a person has both SZ and a personality disorder. Where two conditions are frequently diagnosed together, it calls into question the validity of the classification of both illnesses and perhaps the combination of SZ and a personality disorder should be seen as one separate condition.
What are overlapping symptoms?
The fact that none of the symptoms of SZ are exclusive to the disorder makes a valid diagnosis even more difficult to achieve. Bipolar disorder, OCD and autism are amongst many disorders that have overlapping, typical symptoms with SZ. In addition, it is estimated that about 13% of the population hear voices but only 1% are diagnosed with SZ.
VALIDITY - Research evidence?
Comorbidity reduces the validity of diagnosis as a clinician could make an inaccurate diagnosis due to an additional disorder. Buckley found that the following comorbid conditions with SZ could be subtypes of SZ. 15% for panic disorder, 29% for PTSD, 23% with OCD, 50% with depression and 47% with substance abuse. This calls into question each classification of each disorder.
VALIDITY - Research evidence 2?
An issue with overlapping symptoms was investigated by Konstantareas and Hewitt, as they looked at the symptoms of autistic patients and patients with SZ. Compared 14 male sufferers from autism and 14 male sufferers of OCD. They found that SZ patients did not have autism, but 50% of autistic patients had symptoms of SZ. Implies that a valid diagnosis of SZ is difficult to achieve.
VALIDITY - DSM has more than one criteria?
Classification systems such as the DSM can help improve the validity of diagnosis due to having to meet more than one criteria. The DSM-V classification for SZ must have characteristic symptoms and another criteria is social / occupational malfunction which both have to be met as part of a diagnosis and symptoms need to be present for a certain timeframe. This helps to make a more accurate diagnosis.
VALIDITY - Research evidence 3?
Between 1969 - 72, 8 pseudo patients were sent to 12 psychiatric hospitals, and they had no symptoms or medical history of mental disorders. In all 12 instances, they were diagnosed with a mental disorder and hospitalised, and the misdiagnosis was not discovered. In some of the stays there were significant deficits in patient staff contact. In a follow up study in one hospital, staff were asked to rate the patients between 10 (least likely to be a pseudo patient) and 1 (most likely to be a pseudo patient). 41/193 patients received a score of 1 or 2 even though no pseudo patients were sent.
