Attitudes of mental health clinicians toward perceived inaccuracy of a schizophrenia diagnosis in routine clinical practice

Dana Tzur Bitan, Ariella Grossman Giron, Gady Alon, Shlomo Mendlovic, Yuval Bloch, Aviv Segev

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Mental health clinicians have previously been reported to express reservations regarding the utility and accuracy of the psychiatric classification systems. In this study we aimed to examine clinicians' experiences with instances of perceived inaccuracy of a schizophrenia diagnosis. Methods: Mental health clinicians (N = 175) participated in an online survey assessing prevalence and perceived reasons for inaccuracies of a schizophrenia diagnosis. Respondents included psychiatric ward directors (13.1%), senior psychiatrists and psychologists (40.5%), and psychiatry and clinical psychology residents (36%). Results: Fifty-three percent of respondents reported encountering instances where a schizophrenia diagnosis was assigned even though clinical presentation did not match diagnostic criteria. Seventy-three percent of senior psychiatrists in a position to determine a diagnosis declared assigning schizophrenia even when controversial among clinical staff, and 15% of them declared doing so frequently. The likelihood of frequently assigning a schizophrenia diagnosis even when clearly controversial was predicted by the perception that an inaccurate diagnosis is assigned due to the presence of negative symptoms (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.04-4.66, p = 0.039) and due to patient-related factors, such as the need to facilitate rehabilitation (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.07-2.90, p = 0.024). Conclusions: Although a schizophrenia diagnosis is considered relatively stable and clear, our study indicates that, in clinical practice, the assignment of this diagnosis is frequently controversial. These controversies are associated with the perception that an inaccurate diagnosis is assigned due to diagnostic considerations, or due to the possibility that patients might benefit from such a diagnosis. Implications and limitations for psychiatric practice and discourse are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Article number317
JournalBMC Psychiatry
Volume18
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 27 Sep 2018
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Author(s).

Keywords

  • DSM
  • ICD
  • Misdiagnosis
  • Negative symptoms
  • Rehabilitation
  • Schizophrenia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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