interactionist approach Flashcards
what are interactionist explanations?
the idea that schizophrenia results from a combination of psychological, biological and social factors
what is the diathesis-stress model?
the idea that people have varying genetic potentials for schizophrenia that combine with the degree of environmental stressors in their lives to form their actual amount of vulnerability to the disorder
how does the diathesis-stress model work (use body processes)?
-genetic factors can be linked to a fault dopaminergic system and abnormal functioning of other neurotransmitters
-genes don’t cause the disorder, but increase the likelihood of environmental stressors triggering an episode
-research seems to indicate neural correlates of schiz are an effect, not a cause
what are some examples of psychological triggers?
-family dysfunction
-substance abuse
-critical life events
(cognitive deficits are also seen as an effect not a cause)
research on interactionist explanations
-walker 1997 - schiz p’s have higher levels of cortisol, which heightens genetically-influenced abnormalities in dopamine transmission, triggering onset
-murray 1996 - children born while mothers had flu when pregnant had 88% increased chance of developing schiz, suspected to cause defects in neural development, knock on effect on dopamine functioning
evaluate interaactionist explanations
-walker 1997 - reports that cortisol levels are higher immediately before onset, rather than during recovery, suggesting it’s a trigger
-stressors can contribute to risk of development, can be bio, psych, social and environmental
-differential susceptibility hypothesis extends diathesis-stress model to include positive environments too, as they PREVENT onset (Eg loving family)
-genes cannot determine outcomes alone, need an environment to express themselves in
what are interactionist treatments?
-research indicates combo treatments are most effective
-what combo is based on individuals
-generally antipsychotics given first so psychological treatments have better effect
research on interactionist treaments
-hogarty et al 1986 - assessed relapse rates of 103 p’s from high expressed emotion families receiving various treatments, first year relapse rates were 19% for FT + drugs, 20% SST + drugs, 41% for just drugs, and 0% for FT, SST + drugs (follow up suggested they don’t prevent relapse, just delay it)
evaluate interactionist treatments
-combo of behavioural and cognitive is usually effective, as cog addresses disordered thinking, allowing behavioural to be effective
-increases cost of treatment, but effectiveness can make them cost-effective
-schiz has bio and psych components, so combo treatments are desirable
-downside = p’s receiving CBT interpret the side effects of drugs in a delusional matter, increasing mistrust and resistance to treatment
