In order to diagnose the symptoms of mental health disorders , practitioners use classification systems like the DSM which classifies the symptoms of schizophrenia. The DSM has been criticised for issues including cultural problems and the overlap of disorders such as schizophrenia with depression. The DSM is used to diagnose patients with a disorder and indicates what treatment they will require. Other problems involved with the classification includes inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability.
Ronsenhan conducted a study which demonstrated the issue of reliability. Participants with no mental health administrated themselves into a practice by saying they could hear noises in their head saying ‘thud’. Once the participants were admitted they behaved normally however they were still interpreted as schizophrenic. This raises issues on the reliability of the classification as it suggests anyone can be admitted, and once labelled with a diagnosis every behaviour they may show is blamed on the disorder. The publication of the DSM-III in 1980 was designed as offering a much …show more content…
With concordance rates as high as 50 percent between schizophrenia and depression and 47 percent between schizophrenia and substance abuse. This makes diagnosis and prescribing treatment even harder as the categories are too narrow to be used as a valid indicator at what treatment should be carried out. Kessler proves there is a link between suicidal rates and those suffering depression comorbid with schizophrenia, with statistics only one percent attempt it with schizophrenia with 40 percent attempting it when suffering schizophrenia and depression. This supports Buckleys finding as it proves schizophrenia and depression sufferers need an entirely different treatment. There is no common universal prescription for schizophrenic