David Rosenhan Challenged Psychiatrist Summary

Stanford professor David Rosenhan conducted a study that challenged psychiatrist’s ability to properly diagnose their patients. Rosenhan, along with eight peers, set off to various mental health institutions with the intention of being admitted. The test group was comprised of sane, professional people who were to complain of only one issue: “I am hearing a voice. It is saying thud.” And aside from that, they were to act completely normal. His theory of misdiagnosis seemed to have been proven, as 8 of the 9 fake patients were diagnosed schizophrenic and the other with manic depressive psychosis. After being published in Science, the magazine, various psychiatrists expressed their opposition to his findings, but none more than Robert Spitzer,