In this assignment the Author intends to discuss, evaluate and research the reliability and validity of diagnosis and classification, demonstrate and recognise the values and limitations required when discussing psychological disorders and finally conclude by writing an essay identifying how useful diagnosis and classification is when applied to people in real life situations. There exist two main diagnosis and classification manuals, firstly The International Classification of Diseases or ICD-10, which is an international standard diagnostic classification for all general epidemiological and many health management purposes, as classified by the World Health Organization or (WHO); and the second is the fourth edition of the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-IV. (Coordination Group Publications 2009; Richard Gross 2010).
The DSM-IV appears to be the preferred online resource diagnostic and classification manual presently utilised by both psychiatrists and/or psychologists within the field; DSM-IV contains a list of possible mental health disorders, individuals are rated on multiple axes/dimensions and diagnostic categories which aim to predict a possible diagnosis of mental disorder, ultimately reliability and validity. (Coordination Group Publications 2009; Richard Gross 2010).
Diagnosis is primarily the process of identifying and allocating a possible disease to a category on the basis of symptoms and signs, ultimately any potential classification system is dependent upon psychiatrists being in agreement when attempting to reach a true and certain diagnosis. Both DSM and ICD have introduced explicit operational criteria for diagnosis based on Spitzer et al.’s (1978) Research Diagnostic Criteria. (Coordination Group Publications 2009; Richard Gross 2010).
‘For each disorder, there’s a specific list of symptoms, all or some of which must be present, for a specified period of time, in relation to age and gender; stipulation as to what other diagnoses mustn’t be present; and the personal and social consequences of the disorder. The aim is to make diagnosis more reliable and valid by laying down rules for the inclusion or exclusion of cases.’ (Spitzer et al 1978; Coordination Group Publications 2009; Richard Gross 2010).
(Cooper 1994), asks whether the social consequences should be included among the defining features of a disorder itself, as especially within an internationally utilised system such as ICD since the social environment of individuals varies so widely between cultures. (Coordination Group Publications 2009; Richard Gross 2010). ‘The same symptoms and behaviour that are tolerated in one culture may cause severe social problems in another culture, and it is clearly undesirable for diagnostic decisions to be determined by cultural and social definitions.’ (Cooper 1994; Richard Gross 2010).
Cooper appears to be suggesting that definitions of normality versus abnormality are culturally relative but also implies that it is possible to diagnose mental disorders independently of cultural values and world views; this raises questions as to whether mental disorders exist in an objective sense, modern medicine is based on the assumption that physiological illness is the same throughout the world therefore definition, classification, causation and diagnosis should be largely unaffected by cultural factors. (Coordination Group Publications 2009; Richard Gross 2010).