Interactionist Approach to Explaining and Treating Schizophrenia

Question 1

In Meehl’s original model what was the diathesis cause of schizophrenia?

Answer 1

Entirely genetic, caused by 1 single schizogene

Question 2

How do we explain schizophrenia?

Answer 2

Diathesis stress model

Question 3

In Meehl’s original model, if the schizogene isnt present, how much stress is needed to cause schizophrenia?

Answer 3

No amount of stress will cause schizophrenia

Question 4

In Meehl’s original model what was the stressor in the cause of schizophrenia?

Answer 4

Chronic stress in childhood or adolescence (such as a schizophrenogenic mother) could cause schizophrenia

Question 5

In the modern diathesis stress model, how many candidate genes are thought to contribute to development of schizophrenia?

Answer 5

108

Question 6

In the modern diathesis stress model, aside from genetics, what other biological causes can lead to schizophrenia?
What environmental factors can influence this?

Answer 6

Brain structure. Childhood trauma can alter the developing brain

Question 7

In the modern diathesis stress model, what can act as a stressor?

Answer 7

Anything that risks triggering schizophrenia, such as drug use

Question 8

According to the interactionist approach, how should we treat schizophrenia?

Answer 8

Using biological and psychological treatments

Question 9

What biological treatments should we use and why according to diathesis stress?

Answer 9

Antipsychotics as they reduce dopamine activity

Question 10

What psychological treatments should we use and why according to diathesis stress?

Answer 10

CBT helps to identify irrational thoughts

Question 11

Explain the strength that there is evidence to support the role of diathesis in the development of schizophrenia.
Describe the child rearing style Tienari found lead to schizophrenia.
What does this suggest is important to lead to development of schizophrenia?

Answer 11

Tienari found a child rearing style characterized by high levels of criticism/conflict and low levels of empathy was implicated in the development of schizophrenia, but only for children with high genetic risk (parent with schizophrenia). This suggests that both genetic vulnerability and family related stress are important in the development of schizophrenia. This is strong direct support for the importance of adopting an interactionist approach to schizophrenia, including the idea from the original model that poor parenting is a source of stress.

Question 12

Explain the strength of there being support for the usefulness of an interactionist approach.
Which of these groups did Tarrier find lead to reduced symptoms: Patients who had meds + CBT, patients who had meds + CBT + counselling, patients who had meds only
What does this suggest about the importance of combining bio and psychological treatments?

Answer 12

Tarrier found that patients who were allocated to receive medicine and CBT (and a group allocated to the above plus supportive counselling) showed lower symptom levels than those in the control group who received medication only. Therefore, those receiving a combination of biological and psychological treatments benefitted more than those who only received biological treatments. Studies like this show a clear advantage of adopting an interactionist approach and highlights its importance.

Question 13

Explain the strength of there being support for the value of combined treatment as suggested by diathesis stress.
Guo found that patients who received a combo of which type of treatments improved in quality of life and social functioning?
What is prevented when taking both types of treatments?
Explain the treatment causation fallacy and how when both treatments are combined it does not mean the interactionist approach is correct?
What does this suggest about the diathesis stress model to treating schizophrenia?

Answer 13

For example, Guo reported that patients in the early stages of schizophrenia who receive a combination of antipsychotics and psychological therapy have improved insight, quality of life and social functioning, and therefore are less likely to discontinue treatment if relapse than those taking antipsychotics alone. However, the fact that combined biological and psychological treatments are more effective than either on their own does not necessarily mean that the interactionist approach to schizophrenia is correct (treatment causation fallacy). This therefore means that our understanding of the diathesis stress model for the treatment of schizophrenia is incomplete.

Question 14

Explain the limitation that the main source of stress thought to cause schizophrenia is too simplistic.
What has research proven about the genetic cause of schizophrenia?
Give an example of a form ‘stress’ can come in.
What is vulnerability to schizophrenia thought to be caused by?
Overall, what does this show about diathesis stress as an explanation to schizophrenia?

Answer 14

Research has shown that multiple genes increase vulnerability to schizophrenia each having their own effect, so there is no single schizogene. Furthermore, stress can come in many forms, including but not limited to dysfunctional parenting. Therefore, vulnerability and stress do not have one single source. It is now believed that vulnerability can be caused by early trauma as well as genetic makeup, and that stress can come in many forms. This shows that diathesis and tress are complex ideas, and the original ideas of diathesis and stress are an inadequate explanation in the development of schizophrenia.