Interactionist approach of Sz Flashcards
define interactionist approach
The interactionist approach is a way of explaining the development of behaviour (here SZ) in terms of a range of factors both biological and psychological.
It is important that these factors dont just add up but they combine in a way that can’t be predicted by each one seperately (they interact)
Outline the diathesis-stress model
Sz is explained as the result of both an underlying vunerability (diathesis) and a trigger (stressor), both of which are necessary for the onset of SZ.
In the early versions vunerability was genetic and the stressor was psychological but nowadays both genes and trauma can be diathesis and stressors can be psychological or biological in nature
What aspects of the diathesis-stress model are which
In the early versions vunerability was genetic and the stressor was psychological but nowadays both genes and trauma can be diathesis and stressors can be psychological or biological in nature
Who produced the original diathesis-stress model
Meehl
Outline the original diathesis-stress model (Meehl’s)
The diathesis (vunerability) was entirely genetic - the result of a single schizogene.
This led to the idea of a biologically based schizotypic personality, one characteristic of which is sensitivity to stress.
According to Meehl if an individual doesnt have the schizogene then no amount of stress can lead to SZ.
However in carriers of the gene, chronic stress in childhood and adolescene, in particular the presence of a schizophregenic mother could result in the development of the disorder
Outline the modern understanding of diathesis
- It is now clear that there are many genes increase the genetic vunerability of developing sz however each only slightly but there is no single ‘schizogene’
- modern view also considers pychological trauma as well as genetic factors
outline the modern understanding of stress
- in the original diathesis-stress model, stress was seen as entirely psychological in natue particularly in relation to parenting. Much of modern research into factors triggering sz is cannabis use.
- Cannabis is a stressor because it increases the risk of SZ by up to 7times according to dose
- This may be because cannabis interferes with the dopamine system. However, most people do not develop sz after smoking cannabis presumably because they lack the requisite vunrability factors
What is the stance of the interactionist approach towards treatments for SZ
The interactionist model of SZ acknowledges both biological and psychological factors in SZ and is therefore compatible with both biological and psychological treatments.
What is the interactionist treatment for SZ
The model is associated combining antipsychotic medication and psychological therapies, most commonly CBT.
Give research for the interactionist approach
Tienari et al 2004
Outline Tienari et al 2004
Tienari et al 2004 (the Finnish adoption study)
- investigated the impact of both genetic vunerability and psychological trigger (dysfunctional parenting).
- The study followed 155 Finnish children who’s biological mother had been diagnosed with Sz.
- In adulthood this high genetic risk group was compared to the control group of adoptees without a family history of sz (low genetic risk).
- Adoptive parent had been assessed for childrearing style and it was found that high levels of critisism, hostility and low levels of empathy were strongly associated with the development of SZ but only in the high genetic risk group
- this shows that a combination of genetic vunerability and family stress can lead to greatly increased risk of SZ.
Evaluate diathesis-stress model
- S - research support
- W - the original model (Meehl’s) was reductionistic it was an oversimplification
- S - research like Pharoah et al 2010 shows that interactionist treatment is more effective.
Outline Pharoah et al 2010
no findings
Pharoah et al 2010:
- conducted a meta-analysis of 53 trials from Europe, Asia and North America
- comparing family therapy on its own to drugs on their own to a combination.
What did Pharoah et al 2010 find
They concluded that the addition of family therapy decreases the frequency of relapse, reduces the chance of hospital admissions, and encourages compliance with medication as well as significantly reducing Expressed emotion in a family.
