Interactionist approach Flashcards
what is the interactionist/biosocial approach
acknowledges that there are biological, psychological and social factors in SZPN development
example of each factor in interactionist approach
biological = genetic vunerability, neurochemical/neurological abnormality
psychological = family dysfunction, substance abuse
social = poverty, unemployment
what is the diathesis-stress model
diathesis = vunerability
stress = negative experience
- both vunerability and stress trigger necessary to develop SZPN
underlying factors can cause particular vunerability, but stress triggers onset
what was the original understanding of DS model
diathesis = entirely genetic, caused by schizogene
- Meehl 1962 = if person does not carry schizogene, no amount of stress would lead to SZPN
- carriers of gene experiencing chronic stress, particularly due to schizophrenogenic mother = could result in developing SZPN
what is the modern understanding of the DS model
(diathesis)
diathesis = many genes involved, not one schizogene (Ripke et al), also includes psychological trauma
Read et al = neurodevelopmental model
- early trauma alters developing brain
e.g., hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system can become overactive
= more vunerable to stress
what is the modern understanding of the DS model
(stress)
Houston et al
= stress not only psychological
- modern definition = anything that risks triggering SZPN, e.g., cannabis
suggested explanation for link between cannabis and SZPN
increases risk of SZPN by up to 7x according to dose
- cannabis interferes with DA system
treatment according interactionist
compatible with both biological/psychological treatment methods
- model particularly associated with combo of APs and therapies, e.g. CBT
UK = increasingly common to use combo
US = slower adoption
strength of interactionist approach
Evidence supporting role of DS
- Falloon et al = stress – such as divorce or bereavement, causes the brain to be flooded with neurotransmitters which brings on the acute episode
= link to
- Brown and Birley = 50% people who had an acute schizophrenic episode had experienced a major life event in 3 weeks prior
- shows combo of genetics and stress can lead to greatly increased risk of SZPN
weakness of interactionist approach
Lack explanatory power
- DS model strives to be holistic rather than reductionist
= all-encompassing explanation of how SZPN develops
- achieves holistic aim to some extent but cannot fully account for individual differences
= not fully holistic and may lack some explanatory power
further strength of interactionist approach
Practical application
- combo of bio/psych treatments
studies show combo = enhances effectiveness
- Tarrier et al randomly allocated 300+ pps to 3 conditions
1 = drugs/CBT, 2 = drugs/counselling, 3 = drugs
2 combo groups = lower symptoms following trial
= clear practical advantage to adopting interactionist approach to treating SZPN, due to superior outcomes
