Which of the following is a problem associated with informant ratings when diagnosing psychological disorders?

• A. Informant ratings are never influenced by the informant's relationship with the individual
• B. Informant ratings always provide objective and unbiased information
• C. Informants may have limited knowledge of the individual's internal experiences
• D. Informant ratings eliminate the need for clinical interviews

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand what informant ratings are: they involve gathering information about an individual's psychological state from someone who knows them well, such as a family member or friend.
2. Recognize that informant ratings can be useful because they provide an external perspective, especially when the individual may lack insight or is unable to report accurately.
3. Consider the limitations of informant ratings, particularly that informants may not have access to the individual's internal thoughts, feelings, or subjective experiences, which are crucial for diagnosing many psychological disorders.
4. Evaluate the given options by comparing them to known issues with informant ratings, such as potential bias, limited knowledge of internal states, and the fact that they do not replace clinical interviews.
5. Conclude that the main problem with informant ratings is that informants may have limited knowledge of the individual's internal experiences, which can affect the accuracy of the diagnosis.