Psychological explanations; Stressful life events Flashcards
1
Q
History
A
- Until the 1960s the main theories of schizophrenia were psychological/ environmental
- Including behavioural and psychodynamic theories
2
Q
The ‘Biological turn’
A
- These theories were rejected for two reasons:
- The growing evidence for the biological basis for schizophrenia
- The limitations of the evidence for the environmental theories (correlations, lack of control etc.)
3
Q
Correlational evidence
A
- Critics argued that at best the evidence showed a correlation between family factors and schizophrenia
- It was possible that problems within families were a result of the difficulties in dealing with schizophrenia, rather than the illness
4
Q
However evidence from the twin studies showed that…
A
Genetics was not the sole factor!
5
Q
Models of interaction
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- Diathesis stress model
- The ‘final common pathway’ dopamine hypothesis
6
Q
Diathesis stress model
A
- Genes are the diathesis, and some genes have more ‘penetrance’ than others (higher risk), but genes are not the only factor
- Environmental factors are the stressors
- The environmental factors are the stressors which determine who, out of those at risk, will develop the illness
7
Q
Final common pathway
A
- Howes & Kapur’s version of the dopamine hypothesis says that a range of biological and environmental factors can cause schizophrenia
- All affect the pre-synaptic functioning of the dopamine system
- Can be developed without genetics; so inducing a lot of drugs can be enough to damage to the pathway.
- Something that influences the pre-synaptic dopamine dysfunction
8
Q
Models in stressful life events
A
- Stressful life events can be seen as a stressor in a diathesis stress model, those at (genetic) risk will be affected by stressful life events.
- Stressful life events can be seen as a contributor to dopamine dysfunction within the ‘final common pathway’.
9
Q
Examples of stressors:
A
- Losing your job or home
- Divorce
- physical, emotional, sexual or racial abuse
- College/ university
- Large amount of responsibilities (child carer)
10
Q
Holmes & Rahe’s social readjustment rating scale (SRRS)
A
- Measures life change units- Measure of change or adjustment (stressful)
- Those who are more prone to getting schizophrenia are more likely to find all change stressful.
- Marriage was rated at 50
11
Q
Evaluation: Norman & Malla
A
- Norman & Malla’s Review:
- Found that the severity of symptoms over time was correlated with life events, suggesting that such events act as stressors for those who are already predisposed to schizophrenia.
- This doesn’t mean that they have more stressful life events than others, but when they do experience them they lose the ability to cope
12
Q
Evaluation: Horan et al. & Day
A
- Horan et al.
- 12 Month longitudinal study compared; frequencies, qualitative characteristics, and life events in S and Non-S patients.
- Found that S patient samples have lower levels of such events then the general population.
- Also suggested that its not the number of life events that matter, but the ability to cope.
- Schizophrenic patients had lower rates of life events, but a lower ability to cope.
- Day’s cross national study
- 386 schizophrenic patients from USA, EUROPE, AFRICA AND ASIA.
- Found that higher rates for stressful life events in the 2-3 weeks preceding the onset of schizophrenia.
13
Q
Methodological evaluation
A
- Relationship between life events and schizophrenia; but is it a causal one?
- Retrospective report more stressful life events in the weeks preceding the onset of full symptoms- order of events issue
- Norman & Malla’s review had too many retro and not enough prospective
- Issue with memory is that it is hard to identify the order of events, and also some patients may block out certain memories due to emotionally stressful.
- Wide range of evidence; cross-culture, but issue with retrospective study (order of events)
