Interactionist Approach to Schizophrenia

Question 1

The Interactionist approach

Answer 1

Development of SZ is due to the combined effects of biological and psychological factors

Treatment is effective when combining bio/cog therapies

Question 2

Importance of an Interactionist approach in explaining SZ

Answer 2

Diathesis Stress Model

Psychological concept that a disorder is due to the interaction between a predisposed vulnerability (Diathesis) and an environmental trigger later in life (stressor)

Question 3

Diathesis in SZ

Answer 3

Considered a genetic vulnerability, potentially resulting in a dopamine imbalance

Question 4

Stressors in SZ

Answer 4

Negative environmental experiences (eg family dysfunction), emotional stress/anxiety or a major adverse life event

This emotional event triggers the disorder

Question 5

Meehl’s Model (1962)

Answer 5

• believed diathesis was entirely genetic, the result of a single ‘schizogene’
• according to Meehl, if a person doesn’t have the schizogene then no amount of stress would lead to schizophrenia

Question 6

Modern Understanding of Diathesis (3)

Answer 6

• Many genes increase genetic vulnerability. There is no single ‘Schizogene’,
• psychological stress is still seen as important, a modern definition of stress includes anything that risks triggering schizophrenia, e.g. cannabis
• cannabis is a stressor because it increases the risk of schizophrenia 7* as it interferes with the dopamine system

Question 7

Interactionist Treatment

Answer 7

• Combines antipsychotics with psychological therapies such as CBT
• Biological treatments reduce their symptoms
• CBT gives sufferers skills to change their faulty cognitions

Question 8

Evaluations of Interactionist Approach

Answer 8

Gottesman (1981) concordance rate of MZ twins 48% and 17% for DZ twins. Concordance rate is below 100 suggesting there must be an interaction with environmental factors

Mechanism by which an adverse psychological event triggering symptoms is still uncertain reducing it as an explanation

Question 9

Positive Evaluations of Diathesis and Interactionist Approach to treating SZ

Answer 9

Tarrier (1988)

• Assigned patients to routine care (anti-psychotics) or routine care and CBT
• patients in the two combination groups showed lower symptom levels and spent fewer days in hospital receiving care
• Suggests there is clear advantage to adopting an interactionist approach rather than anti-psychotics alone

Question 10

Negative Evaluations of Diathesis and Interactionist Approach to treating SZ

Answer 10

Interactionist approach to SZ has the same limitations as both treatment options

Combines side effects of side effects of drug therapy and high cost of trained therapist