“Outline + evaluate issues associated with the
classification + diagnosis of schizophrenia”
A01 –
The ICD (International Classification System for Diseases) + the DSM
(Diagnostic + Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) are used to diagnose
+ classify schizophrenia.
→ they may have issues of reliability, validity + cultural relativism.
ISSUE 1 - RELIABILITY
Reliability = extent to which multiple psychiatrists come to the same
conclusion in terms of diagnosing a patient with schizophrenia.
RELIABILITY ISSUE 1 - Classification system may not be reliable because
as more information about mental disorders arises, they are updated.
→ so classification system is constantly changing, which may reduce
reliability of classification of schizophrenia.
RELIABILITY ISSUE 2 – 2 manuals are used (DSM + ICD) so diagnosis
may depend on which manual is used.
→ this would reduce reliability of classification of schizophrenia.
RELIABILITY ISSUE 3 – psychiatrists may not agree with each other so
diagnosis may be subjective, depending on who they are being diagnosed
by.
→ psychiatrists may not agree because they rely on what patient tells
them, which could be open to interpretation.
↓
A02 –
RESEARCH 1 – Beck et al (1961)
POINT – supports the idea that patient diagnosis is subjective.
EVIDENCE – looked at the inter-rater reliability between 2 psychiatrists when
considering the cases of 154 patients. The reliability was only 54% (they only
agreed 54% of the time).
EXPLAIN – supports subjectivity of diagnosis because it shows the classification
tools may not always be reliable, if they were then the 2 psychiatrists should
have agreed close to 100% of the time.
EVALUATE 1 – weakness – small sample (only used 2 psychiatrists) – so findings
may not be generalizable beyond the study – weakens research support for
subjectivity of patient diagnosis.
REAL WORLD IMPLICATION – there are problems for patients if they do not get
diagnosed properly. If they don’t get diagnosed + they do have schizophrenia,
then they will not receive treatment so won’t get any better/may get worse. So
patient may be danger to themselves/others.
A01 –
ISSUE 2 – VALIDITY
Validity = the extent to which the diagnostic criteria really do measure
schizophrenia.
VALIDITY ISSUE 1 – symptoms of schizophrenia vary between patients +
patients don’t always fit neatly into the subtypes of schizophrenia.
classification + diagnosis of schizophrenia”
A01 –
The ICD (International Classification System for Diseases) + the DSM
(Diagnostic + Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) are used to diagnose
+ classify schizophrenia.
→ they may have issues of reliability, validity + cultural relativism.
ISSUE 1 - RELIABILITY
Reliability = extent to which multiple psychiatrists come to the same
conclusion in terms of diagnosing a patient with schizophrenia.
RELIABILITY ISSUE 1 - Classification system may not be reliable because
as more information about mental disorders arises, they are updated.
→ so classification system is constantly changing, which may reduce
reliability of classification of schizophrenia.
RELIABILITY ISSUE 2 – 2 manuals are used (DSM + ICD) so diagnosis
may depend on which manual is used.
→ this would reduce reliability of classification of schizophrenia.
RELIABILITY ISSUE 3 – psychiatrists may not agree with each other so
diagnosis may be subjective, depending on who they are being diagnosed
by.
→ psychiatrists may not agree because they rely on what patient tells
them, which could be open to interpretation.
↓
A02 –
RESEARCH 1 – Beck et al (1961)
POINT – supports the idea that patient diagnosis is subjective.
EVIDENCE – looked at the inter-rater reliability between 2 psychiatrists when
considering the cases of 154 patients. The reliability was only 54% (they only
agreed 54% of the time).
EXPLAIN – supports subjectivity of diagnosis because it shows the classification
tools may not always be reliable, if they were then the 2 psychiatrists should
have agreed close to 100% of the time.
EVALUATE 1 – weakness – small sample (only used 2 psychiatrists) – so findings
may not be generalizable beyond the study – weakens research support for
subjectivity of patient diagnosis.
REAL WORLD IMPLICATION – there are problems for patients if they do not get
diagnosed properly. If they don’t get diagnosed + they do have schizophrenia,
then they will not receive treatment so won’t get any better/may get worse. So
patient may be danger to themselves/others.
A01 –
ISSUE 2 – VALIDITY
Validity = the extent to which the diagnostic criteria really do measure
schizophrenia.
VALIDITY ISSUE 1 – symptoms of schizophrenia vary between patients +
patients don’t always fit neatly into the subtypes of schizophrenia.
