Rosenhan's Study (1973) Flashcards
(3 cards)
1
Q
Aims
A
- Investigate experience of being hospitalised
- Investigate whether labels would be used in situations where they would be inappropriate
2
Q
Procedure & Findings
A
- 7 participants – 4 male and 3 female
- Visited 12 hospitals in 5 states
- The participants, who were pseudopatients (fake patients) acted like they were hearing a voice saying ‘hollow, empty, thud’
- After getting in, they acted normal and said their symptoms had gone
- None of the patients were detected as being fake + longest stay was 2 months
3
Q
Conclusion
A
- Shows how diagnoses were inconsistent despite same symptoms being shown and psychologists were unsure about what schizophrenia actually was
- Led to widespread distrust in psychiatrists’ ability to accurately diagnose + a revision of classification systems (manuals have been improved, diagnostic practice is different, categories and definitions are more detailed and operationalised, psychiatrists now use standardised interview schedules when assessing patients, ICD and DSM are in line with each other so they are similar), and more humane treatment of affected people
