What epidemic? The social construction of bipolar epidemics

Abstract

Contribution to field – The arbitrariness of diagnostic thresholds naturally leads researchers to argue for lower thresholds. This allows more individuals who were previously considered psychiatrically normal to be reclassified as psychiatrically disordered. Lowering diagnostic thresholds increases the risk of confusing normal elation or sadness with disordered states, increasing the potential of false-positive diagnoses and the false impression of rising rates of disorder.

Citation

Burrows, K. (2010), "What epidemic? The social construction of bipolar epidemics", Mukherjea, A. (Ed.) Understanding Emerging Epidemics: Social and Political Approaches (Advances in Medical Sociology, Vol. 11), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp. 243-261. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1057-6290(2010)0000011017