Interactionist approach to schizophrenia

Question 1

what does the interactionist approach propose

Answer 1

recognises biological, psychological and social factors all play in a role in schizophrenia
one way to explain the interactionist approach is the diathesis stress model

Question 2

what is the diathesis stress model

Answer 2

diathesis is a vulnerability, stress is a negative experience
both a vulnerability to schizophrenia and a stress trigger are necessary to develop the disorder

Question 3

what was the original diathesis stress model

Answer 3

Meehl (1962) proposed there was a ‘schizogene’
thought that if an individual did not have this gene then no amount of stress could trigger schizophrenia
this is outdated and simplistic

Question 4

what is the modern understanding of diathesis

Answer 4

there are many genes responsible for schizophrenia (180 candidate genes)
early psychological trauma can be the diathesis rather than stressor, as they can alter brain structure
can cause people to be more vulnerable to schizophrenia

Question 5

what is the modern understanding of stress

Answer 5

broadened to look at the role of the family
environmental factors are considered stress triggers
research on role of drugs in triggering schizophrenia, mainly cannabis

Question 6

how does the interactionist approach believe schizophrenia should be treated

Answer 6

by combining antipsychotic medication and psychological therapies, commonly CBT

Question 7

what did Turkington et al (2006) state

Answer 7

it is still possible to believe in biological causes of schizophrenia and still practice CBT to relieve psychological symptoms

Question 8

what does the former require

Answer 8

adopting an interactionist model - it is not possible to adopt a purely biological approach and tell people diagnosed with schizophrenia their condition is purely biological and that there is no psychological significance, and then treating them with CBT

Question 9

what is increasing in Britian

Answer 9

the standard practice of treating people diagnosed with schizophrenia with a combination of antipsychotic drugs and CBT

Question 10

supporting evidence for the interactionist approach to schizophrenia (strength)

Answer 10

Tienari (2004) investigated genetic vulnerability and parenting style
children adopted from mothers with schizophrenia 1960-1979 were followed up
adoptive parents assessed for child rearing style and rates of schizophrenia compared to control of adoptees with no genetic risk
families with high levels of conflict seemed to trigger schizophrenia in the genetic risk group and not the control group

Question 11

real world application of the interactionist approach to schizophrenia (strength)

Answer 11

combination of biological and psychological treatments
studies show combining these two enhances effectiveness
Tarrier et al (2004) randomly allocated 315 participants
1) medication + CBT
2) medication + counselling
3) control group (medication only)
lower symptoms in groups 1 & 2 than control group
clear practical advantage

Question 12

urbanisation (limitation)

Answer 12

schizophrenia is more commonly diagnosed in urban areas than rural areas
assumes urban living is more stressful than rural and therefore city living is a trigger (stress)
however, may be that schizophrenia is more likely to be diagnosed in cities

Question 13

contradictory evidence for treatment (limitation)

Answer 13

jarvis and okami point out that saying a successful treatment for a mental disorder justifies a particular explanation is the logical equivalent of saying alcohol reduces shyness because shyness is caused by alcohol
treatment-causation fallacy
cannot make assumptions