Interactionist Approach Flashcards
What is the interactionist approach to schizophrenia?
Explains schizophrenia as the result of an interaction between biological influences and environmental influences.
What does Meehl’s (1962) original diathesis-stress model state?
That diathesis (vulnerability) is entirely genetic and the result of a single schizogene which leads to a biologically based schizotypic personality (sensitivity to stress). Thus, no amount of stress will lead to schizophrenia if this gene is not present. Stress is seen as psychological in nature and naturally related to dysfunctional parenting.
What does the modern understanding of diathesis entail? Explain researcher’s new proposition
Many genes each can increase genetic vulnerability, not just one gene. Also diathesis can be more than just genetics. Read (2001) proposed a neurodevelopmental model where psychological trauma is seen as the diathesis. This is bcs it has been found that early trauma alters the developing brain. For example, the HPA system can become overactive, making a person more vulnerable to later stress.
What does the modern understanding of stress entail? Explain an example and study
Anything that risks triggering schizophrenia, not just parenting.
Houston et al. (2008) - cannabis had triggered schizophrenic episodes in patients. Cannabis is a stressor as it increases risk by up to 7 times, interfering with the dopamine system.
What combination of treatment would an interactionist model use?
Antipsychotics and CBT.
2 Strengths of the interactionist approach (1 COUNTER)
Support for interactional approach to treating schizophrenia:
Tarrier et al. (2004)- compared patients who were receiving combined treatment with patients receiving standard care (antipsychotics only)
Of the 315 patients, those receiving combination treatments showed lower symptom levels than those in control group.
COUNTER - There was no difference in hospital readmission between the groups suggests in the long-term, these two treatments are as effective as each other. It would cost more for combination treatments so may be better to just focus on biological treatments if both are as effective as each other in the long-term.
Research support:
Tienari et al. (2004)
A nationwide study of Finish Schizophrenic parents’ offspring given up for adoption compared to adopted offspring with biological parents without schizophrenia. Found there were 7 psychotic cases. 6 we’re offspring of schizophrenics and one was a control. However no seriously disturbed offspring found in a healthy house. This suggests that both genetic vulnerability and family-related stress are important in the development of schizophrenia.
1 Limitation of the interactionist approach
Oversimplified:
Original diathesis-stress model has been criticized for oversimplifying the complex nature of schizophrenia, in that it claims that diathesis (vulnerability) is entirely genetic and the result of a single ‘schizogene’.
Research has shown that there are multiple genes (polygenic) which increase vulnerability to schizophrenia and no single gene. - Ripke et al. (2014) studied the genetic makeup of 37,000 patients and found 108 seperate variations of base pairs associated with increased risk of schizophrenia. They found these coded for the functioning of dopamine.
Also diatheses do not have to be purely genetic. An increased risk for schizophrenia can also result from brain damage caused by environmental factors or psychological trauma, such as child abuse.
