An Interactionist Approach To Schizophrenia

Question 1

What is the interaction it’s approach to schizophrenia

Answer 1

Explains schizophrenia as a result of an interaction between biological and environmental influences

Question 2

What is the diathesis-stress model for schizophrenia

Answer 2

States that people can have a predisposition to develop schizophrenia (diathesis), but this disorder will only develop if it is triggered by a stressful environment (stress)

Question 3

What does Meehl’s (1962) original diathesis-stress model state

Answer 3

The diathesis (vulnerability) is entirely genetic and the result of a single schizogene which leads to a biologically based schizotypic personality (sensitivity to stress)

Question 4

What does the modern understanding understanding of diathesis entail

Answer 4

Many genes each can increase genetic vulnerability, not just one gene (schizophrenia is polygenic)
Also diathesis can be more than just genetics- eg. Psychological trauma (child abuse)

Question 5

What does the modern understanding of stress entail

Answer 5

Anything that risks triggering schizophrenia (eg. Cannabis)- is not just parenting

Question 6

What is an interaction it’s approach to treating schizophrenia

Answer 6

Treating a patient with both antipsychotics and CBT