7 Interactionist SZ Flashcards
Define Diathesis-Stress Model
Explains Mental Disorders As The Result of an interaction between biological and environmental influences
Explain Diathesis
Schizophrenia has a genetic component. Identical twins of schizophrenic parents are at greater risk of developing it than siblings or DZ twins. However, the concordance rate for identical twins is only 50% showing that environmental factors must also play a role.
Explain Stress
Experiences such as childhood trauma or the stress of living in big cities can increase the risk of developing psychotic symptoms. Children who experienced severe trauma were three times more likely to develop schizophrenia as adults than the general population.
Nature of the diathesis and stress
Minor stresses could lead to the onset of the disorder for highly vulnerable individuals, or a major stressful event could be required to trigger it in a less vulnerable person. This suggests an additive interaction between diathesis and stress.
Evaluation Point: Diatheses May not be exclusively genetic
Most diathesis-stress models assume that genetic influences cause neurochemical abnormalities, which result in increased risk of schizophrenia. However brain damage, caused by oxygen deprivation during birth increases the risk of schizophrenia by four times; a non genetic biological influence.
Evaluation Point: Difficulties in determining causal stress
Diathesis stress model often refer to stressful events shortly before the onset of symptoms. However, maladaptive methods of coping with stress in childhood compromise resilience. This may increase vulnerability to mental illness.
Evaluation Point: Implication for treatment
Genes cannot be altered but factors interacting with genetic vulnerability can be addressed. For example, women infected during pregnancy are more likely to have a child who later develops schizophrenia. But only if both mother and child carry a gene defect.
