Question 110 marks
Question
From the key study by Oruč et al. (1997) on mood (affective) disorders: (a) (i) Outline what is meant by a clinical interview. [2] (ii) Outline one reason why the participants were interviewed. [2] (b) The interviews were reviewed by a second psychiatrist. Suggest one effect there could have been on the results if the interviews had not been reviewed by a second psychiatrist. [2] (c) Explain one strength and one weakness of a clinical interview as used in this study. [4]
Mark scheme
1 From the key study by Oruč et al. (1997) on mood (affective) disorders: 1(a)(i) Outline what is meant by a clinical interview. 2 Syllabus 1.2.2 Key study on association analysis of genetics of depressive disorder: Oruč et al. (1997). Marks: award 1 mark for each feature (up to 2 marks max). Answers may include (other appropriate responses to be credited). • a face-to-face interview (1 mark) • between a medical practitioner and a person/patient (1 mark) Essential for 2 marks • involving verbal and non-verbal exchange (1 mark) • in a medical setting (1 mark) • designed to diagnose symptoms, prescribe or assess treatment (1 mark) 1(a)(ii) Outline one reason why the participants were interviewed. 2 Marks: Award 2 marks for a detailed outline. Award 1 mark for a partial outline. Definitive answers: • patients had been previously assessed (1 mark) for lifetime psychopathology; the interview was done to confirm this (2 marks) • to ask about first degree relatives (1 mark) who had a history of a major affective disorder (2 marks) • to administer a psychometric test (1 mark) the SADS-L (Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia – Lifetime Version) (2 marks) 1(b) The interviews were reviewed by a second psychiatrist. 2 Suggest one effect there could have been on the results if the interviews had not been reviewed by a second psychiatrist. Marks: Award 2 marks for an appropriate effect stated and applied to study with detail / elaboration / example. Award 1 mark for an appropriate effect identified but not applied. Answers may include (other appropriate responses to be credited): • the participant may not be suitable for the study (1 mark) which (i) may be bad for the person if they then participated (2 marks) (ii) it might break ethical guidelines (2 marks) • the data may be invalid (1 mark) because the first psychiatrist made an error in (i) diagnosis of BP type 1 (2 marks) (ii) checking the results of the SADS-L (2 marks) 1(c) Explain one strength and one weakness of a clinical interview as used in 4 this study. Marks: Up to 2 marks for each strength and up to 2 marks for each weakness: Award 2 marks for an appropriate strength/weakness stated and applied as required by the question with detail / elaboration / example. Award 1 mark for an appropriate strength/weakness stated but not applied. Answers may include (other appropriate responses to be credited): Strengths: • it is used to confirm the individual circumstances (1 mark) the patient knows their family relationships, has to complete the psychometric assessment test; the practitioner only has notes of previous history (2 marks). • the individual patient can explain and answer any question (1 mark) for example about their BP disorder type 1 that may be asked; to clarify their suitability for the study (2 marks) Weaknesses: • the patient may use vague terms to describe their condition and be unable to clearly explain what the practitioner needs to know, or fully understand what the study is about (1 mark) such as BP disorder type 1, transporter genes (2 marks) • the patient may not understand medical jargon (1 mark) that is used such as BP disorder type 1, transporter genes (2 marks)