Critical Evaluation of Rosenhans Study 'on Being Sane in Insane Places'
The question of what it means to be labelled ‘psychologically abnormal’ is examined closely in Rosenhans study of ‘On Being Sane in Insane Places’. This study highlights the usefulness and consequences of being diagnostically labelled.
Rosenhans study ‘On Being Sane in Insane Places’ tests the hypothesis that ‘We cannot distinguish the sane from the insane in psychiatric hospitals’. (Rosenhan, 1973) This study is an influential criticism in testing the validity of psychiatric diagnoses, contextual factors in reaching these diagnoses, and what happens after a patient has been diagnostically labelled as ’psychologically abnormal’. The aim of Rosenhans study was to prove a positive hypothesis. During the study 8 participants of various backgrounds, including Rosenhan himself, gained admission in to 12 psychiatric hospitals across the US. These hospitals were a random selection, from research based to private, modern, old and with varied staff-patient ratios. The pseudo patients gained entry to the facilities by feigning that they could hear voices, reflective of a personality disorder, including words such as ‘hollow’ and ‘empty’. These words were selected by Rosenhan as an opportunity to demonstrate that these voices might be reflecting on the individual’s life. After admission to the hospital Rosenhan claims that the pseudo patients cease any abnormal behaviour and continue life within the institution and normally as possible. Rosenhan instructs the pseudo patients to not alter any personal information about themselves to the staff of the hospital such as their education or family background (except their name for security purposes) whilst being psychologically assessed. The study tests whether the patients, after their original symptoms have alleviated, will be given a psychiatric diagnoses and the consequences of being labelled as such. The outcome of the study was that 11 out of 12 participants were discharged as having ‘Schizophrenia, in remission’. Rosenhan
Rosenhans study ‘On Being Sane in Insane Places’ tests the hypothesis that ‘We cannot distinguish the sane from the insane in psychiatric hospitals’. (Rosenhan, 1973) This study is an influential criticism in testing the validity of psychiatric diagnoses, contextual factors in reaching these diagnoses, and what happens after a patient has been diagnostically labelled as ’psychologically abnormal’. The aim of Rosenhans study was to prove a positive hypothesis. During the study 8 participants of various backgrounds, including Rosenhan himself, gained admission in to 12 psychiatric hospitals across the US. These hospitals were a random selection, from research based to private, modern, old and with varied staff-patient ratios. The pseudo patients gained entry to the facilities by feigning that they could hear voices, reflective of a personality disorder, including words such as ‘hollow’ and ‘empty’. These words were selected by Rosenhan as an opportunity to demonstrate that these voices might be reflecting on the individual’s life. After admission to the hospital Rosenhan claims that the pseudo patients cease any abnormal behaviour and continue life within the institution and normally as possible. Rosenhan instructs the pseudo patients to not alter any personal information about themselves to the staff of the hospital such as their education or family background (except their name for security purposes) whilst being psychologically assessed. The study tests whether the patients, after their original symptoms have alleviated, will be given a psychiatric diagnoses and the consequences of being labelled as such. The outcome of the study was that 11 out of 12 participants were discharged as having ‘Schizophrenia, in remission’. Rosenhan