A01

• What is reliability?

  The consistency of measurements - we would expect to produce the same data if taken on successive occasions
• What is validity?

  Refers to whether an observed effect is a genuine one
• What are two factors which brings into question the reliability of diagnosing schizophrenia?

  1. Cultural differences

  2. Inter-rater reliability
• What are 3 factors which bring into question the validity of diagnosing schizophrenia?

  1. Symptom overlap

  2. Co-morbidity

  3. Gender bias
• What is co-morbidity?

  • The extent that two (or more) conditions or diseases occur simultaneously in a patient e.g. a patient having both schizophrenia and depression
  • Brings into question classification of schizophrenia as if it is commonly found alongside another disorder it may not be a separate condition
• What is symptom overlap?

  Symptoms of a disorder may not be unique to that disorder but may also be found in other disorders, making accurate diagnosis difficult
• How do cultural differences affect reliability of diagnosing schizophrenia?

  • There are some positive symptoms of schizophrenia which would be seen as acceptable in African cultures and would not receive a diagnosis of schizophrenia
  • E.g. hearing voices may be more acceptable in African cultures due to cultural beliefs in communication with ancestors
  • Schizophrenia may be inconsistently diagnosed between cultures
• What is inter-rater reliability in relation to the diagnosis of mental health disorders?

  The extent to which two or more mental health professionals arrive at the same diagnosis for the same patients
• How does inter-rater reliability affect reliability of diagnosing schizophrenia?

  Schizophrenia has been shown to have poor inter-rater reliability - Whaley (2001) = inter-rater reliability correlations of 0.11
• How does gender bias affect the validity of diagnosing schizophrenia?

  Males are more likely to be diagnosed than females as females appear to function better - means schizophrenia could be unrecognised in females
• What is reliability in the context of diagnosing and classifying schizophrenia?

  Ensuring there is consistency in the diagnosis and classification of schizophrenia by different psychiatrists across time and cultures
• What is validity in the context of diagnosing and classifying schizophrenia?

  Ensuring that the patient is receiving a correct diagnosis of schizophrenia and that schizophrenia has been correctly classified