*Psychiatric Labels Impact

Chapter 16 - Psychological Disorders

Critical Issues in Diagnostic Labelling

  • Impact of Psychiatric Labels:

    • Psychiatric labels significantly affect social perceptions, self-concept, and legal outcomes.

    • Once a diagnostic label is assigned to an individual, it tends to be perceived as a descriptor of the person rather than their behavior.

    • This perception can distort objectivity, whereby others start forming expectations based on the psychiatric label.

    • Example:

      • A neighbor who is labeled as a "sexual psychopath" is likely to be treated differently by the community, regardless of the accuracy of the label.

    • Self-Perception Influence:

      • Labels can heavily influence self-perception, causing individuals to internalize societal expectations or stigma associated with the label.

Research Foundations

  • Study Reference:

    • "On Being Sane in Insane Places" - Rosenhan (1973)

    • Design Summary:

      • Question: Will ordinary people be admitted to a mental institution if they simply demonstrate psychiatric symptoms?

      • Type: Participant observation.

      • Variables:

      • Variable X: Whether the pseudopatient was admitted and for how long.

      • Variable Y: Presenting symptom (hearing "hollow," "empty," "thud").

Legal Consequences of Diagnostic Labelling

  • Competency and Involuntary Commitment:

    • Refers to legal standing regarding a defendant's mental condition during a hearing, not regarding the crime itself.

    • If a person is deemed "not competent to stand trial," they may be institutionalized until they are deemed fit to proceed with the trial.

    • The focuses here include understanding the trial process and assisting the defendant's legal defense.

  • Insanity:

    • Insanity considers a defendant's mental state at the time of the crime.

    • It is utilized when a person is judged to be unable to understand the wrongfulness of their actions or control their behavior during the commission of a crime.

    • In Canada, the term used is NCRMD (Not Criminally Responsible on account of Mental Disorder).

    • Shifted Burden of Proof:

      • The prosecution is required to prove that the defendant was sane at the time of the crime (as established in Clark v. Arizona, 2006).

    • Some regions may also apply a verdict of "guilty but mentally ill."

    • Goal:

      • Strive for a balance between accountability for crimes and the acknowledgment of mental impairment affecting a defendant's behavior.