An Interactionist Approach

Question 1

An interactionist approach is one that sees schizophrenia as the result of an interaction between

Answer 1

Biological and psychological/environmental factors

Question 2

Biological factors could include

Answer 2

Genetics
Brain abnormalities
DA hypothesis (high activity)

Question 3

Psychological/environmental factors could include

Answer 3

Family: schizophenogenic mother, double bind and expressed emotion

Urban living

Question 4

The diathesis stress model

Answer 4

This is an example of an interactionst approach to explaining schizophrenia

Question 5

Diathesis refers to vulnerability and Stress refers to a negative experience that triggers the disorder

Answer 5

Therefore, the model proposes that schizophrenia develops if an individual is biologically at risk of the disorder and has had a negative experience that triggers the disorder to manifest

Question 6

The original diathesis-stress model by Meehl (1962) proposed that the “diathesis” was entirely genetic

Answer 6

Meehl stated that possession of a single schizogene resulted in a schizotypic personality (an individual who is highly sensitive to stress)

Question 7

Twin study evidence indeed suggests a genetic component because

Answer 7

40% concordance rates for MZ 7% DZ suggests genetic component because more similarity, higher rate

Question 8

Furthermore, twin study evidence also suggests that the cause is not entirely genetic because

Answer 8

Concordance rates for identical twins were 40% which should be 100% if the cause was entirely genetic

Question 9

Meehl’s model therefore proposed that “stress” also is necessary to trigger the disorder

Answer 9

that “stress” was entirely environmental

Question 10

Dysfunctional parenting during childhood/adolescence in an individual with the ‘schizogene’ would trigger the development of the disorder

Answer 10

in particular, the presence of a schizophregenic mother

Question 11

Other research suggests that living in densely populated, urban environments more than doubles the risk of schizophrenia (Vassos et al)

Answer 11

possibly due to adverse living conditions

Question 12

This evidence again suggests an interaction of diathesis and stress, because

Answer 12

not everyone living in urban environments develops the disorder since not all will possess genetic vulnerability

Question 13

The model assumes additivity

Answer 13

that diathesis and stress add together in some way to produce the disorder

Question 14

There are several ways that the two could combine and lead to the onset of the disorder

Answer 14

more of one requires less of the other

Question 15

implications for treatment

Answer 15

Because the model acknowledges both biological and psychological factors in schizophrenia, it is compatible with both biological and pyschological treatments.

Question 16

In particular, the model is associated with combining the use of antipsychotic medication with CBT

Answer 16

It is unusual to treat schizophrenia using psychological therapies alone; in fact, CBT, family therapy and token economies are usually carried out with patients who are also prescribed antipsychotics

Question 17

Supported by evidence from prospective studies

Answer 17

Tienari et al 19000 adopted children, biological mothers with schiz and a control group with healthy mothers
Most likely to develop were those with biological mothers with schiz and adoptive parents with child rearing styles including high level critism low level Empathy
Increases validity showing schiz most likely to devlop from combiniation of stress and genetic vulnerability

Question 18

Supported by evidence from the effects of treatment

Tarrier

Answer 18

patients who were given combined treatments (cbt+antipsychotics) had lower levels of symptoms than those who had recieved antipsychotics alone

increases validity, combination of treatments effective, combinition of factors is the cause

however treatment causation fallacy

Question 19

over simplified

Answer 19

It is now believed that there is no single ‘schizogene’ as originally proposed by Meehl, but rather there are multiple genes that increase vulnerability to schizophrenia.

diathesis may not be genetic ie early trauma can affect brain development, making them more susceptible to later stress

stress may not be environmetal eg cannabis smoking interferes with the DA system can increase the risk of schiz

reduces the validity of the original model, may not be what meehl first suggested (revised models rectified this)

Question 20

incomplete

Answer 20

While there is strong evidence to suggest that an underlying vulnerability coupled with stress can lead to schizophrenia, we do not yet fully understand how this combination of factors work together to produce the symptoms.

reduces credibility of model, implies an unsatifisfactory explanation for schiz