interactionist approach

Question 1

interactionist approach to explaining schizophrenia

Answer 1

acknowledges range of biological, psychological and societal factors are involved in development of schizophrenia

diathesis-stress model is an interactionist approach to schizophrenia
- argued to both an underlying (genetic) vulnerability (diathesis) and an environmental trigger (stress)
- both necessary for onset of schizophrenia

Question 2

diathesis stress model

Answer 2

Meehl’s
- diathesis (vulnerability) for schizophrenia is due to result of singular ‘schizogene’
- don’t have the genetic vulnerability = no amount of stress would lead to schizophrenia

stress (trigger) for schizophrenia is negative psychological experience e.g. dysfunctional parents & stressful life events)

chronic stress in someone who carries genetic vulnerability > schizophrenia
- diathesis & stress add together to produce schizophrenia

Question 3

modern understanding of diathesis

Answer 3

now believed diathesis is not due to single schizogene
- many genes increase vulnerability

diathesis doesn’t have to be genetic - could be early psychological trauma affecting brain development

e.g. child abuse affects HPA system > more vulnerable to stress

Question 4

strength 1

Answer 4

evidence from Tienari

studied 145 children (who had at least 1 biological parent with schizophrenia) and were adopted into a new family and compared with 158 adoptees without genetic risk

adopted parents assessed for child-rearing style across two groups compared
- child-rearing style characterised by high levels of criticism and conflict and low levels of empathy were implicated in development of schizophrenia, but only those in high-genetic risk group

provides convincing evidence for dual role of diathesis (genes) and stress (hostile child rearing practices) in development of schizophrenia

Question 5

limit 1

Answer 5

original diathesis-stress model is too simplistic

as original model suggests diathesis is purely biological & stress is only psychological

researchers such as Houston found childhood sexual trauma was a diathesis & cannabis use a trigger

suggests old idea of diathesis as biological & stress as psychological has turned out to be overly simple

Question 6

limit 2

Answer 6

evidence from Tarrier

randomly allocated 315 patients to medication + CBT group or medication + supportive counselling group or control

patients in 2 combination groups showed lower symptom levels than those in control group

suggests interactionist approach is best at treating schizophrenia in terms of symptom reduction