🎭 Reliability: The Consistency Factor

• Definition: How consistent a diagnosis is between different psychiatrists.
• Why it matters: Think of it as trying to bake a cake using the same recipe, but getting different results each time! Without reliability, a diagnosis wouldn't be trustworthy.

🎨 Validity: The Accuracy Factor

• Definition: How accurate a diagnosis is. It builds upon reliability.
• Why it matters: Imagine drawing a bull's eye, but the arrows hit different spots every time. If the diagnosis isn't valid, treatment might miss the real issue.

• What it means: Different patients with the same disorder might show different symptoms.
• Example: Picture two friends with the same cold, but one sneezes while the other has a sore throat. They might still have the same underlying issue, just different signs.

• What it means: Diagnoses are often made on symptoms since the underlying causes are not fully known.
• Example: Imagine having a fever from either the flu or malaria. The symptoms might be the same, but the causes are very different!

• What it means: If two disorders often occur together, are they separate or just different sides of the same coin?
• Example: Think of having a burger with fries. Are they two separate meals, or part of one combo?