Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Psychiatry, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
  • 2 Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Orthopaedics, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yacoob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysi
  • 3 Community Medicine Department, Mahsa University, Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Elmu, Off Jalan University, 59100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, HTAA Kuantan 25150, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
Clin Ter, 2015;166(2):87-90.
PMID: 25945438 DOI: 10.7417/CT.2015.1823

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to investigate the documentation of the DSM-IV-TR- Criteria A in diagnoses of schizophrenia and to identify the symptoms associated with over diagnosis of schizophrenia.

METHOD: This study involved a retrospective review and analysis of data from case notes.

RESULTS: Data of 107 newly diagnosed patients with schizophrenia were keyed in and analyzed using SPSS v 19. The cases were then evaluated for the use of the DSM-IV-TR- Criteria A. Over diagnosis was noted in 37.39% of the patients. Disorganised behaviour (12.5%), affective flattening (12.5%), hallucination (16%) and non-bizarre delusion (18.3%) significantly contributed to the over-diagnosis of schizophrenia. Symptoms such as non-bizarre delusion and hallucination were the most commonly used in over-diagnosing schizophrenia and were statistically significant with p ≤0.05.

CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant lack of DSM-IV-TR Criteria A among the data documented to diagnose schizophrenia and non-bizarre delusion and hallucination were the most commonly used in over-diagnosing schizophrenia. This key problem needs to be addressed. The reliability of a diagnosis is indispensable and achievable with the proper clinical application of DSM-IV-TR Criteria A. The DSM-IV-TR Criteria have been perceived to be useful and reliable and is most widely used throughout the world.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.