Psychosocial Factors

Question 1

DB

Who came up with the double bind theory?

Answer 1

Bateson et al

Question 2

DB

What is the double bind theory?

Answer 2

It suggests that schizophrenia is caused by the family communicating in a destructive and ambiguous fashion

Question 3

DB

What can contradictory messages cause?

Answer 3

Schizophrenic symptoms, such as false perception of reality

Question 4

DB

What kind of symptoms does it cause and why does this highlight the reductionalism of the theory?

Answer 4

Negative symptoms

Should have two disorders for positive and negative symptoms

Question 5

DB

Outline and evaluate the study conducted before 1970

Answer 5

Schiz more common in dysfunctional families

Only studied after the schiz was diagnosed
Can’t claim a causal link

Question 6

DB

How is the double bind theory methodologically flawed?

Answer 6

It’s retrospective - relies on memory

Most schizs have impaired memory

Question 7

DB

How is the double bind theory destructive?

Answer 7

It’s offensive towards the families who look after them, blaming them for their relatives disorder

Question 8

DB

Who’s research contradicted the double bind theory and how?

Answer 8

Liem et al

Found no difference between normal and families of a schiz when looking at parental communication

Question 9

EE

What does expressed emotion suggest?

Answer 9

High levels of emotion (EE) increase the relapse rates of schizs possibly due to high stress levels

Question 10

EE

What did Vaughn and Leff find?

Answer 10

Relapse rates:
High EE: 51%
Low EE: 13%

Relapse rates were increased with more face-to-face contact with high EE relatives

Question 11

EE

What is the real life application of research into EE?

Answer 11

Has been built into treatment programmes and included in education and training

Question 12

EE

What is the main criticism of EE?

Answer 12

Goldstein stated some schizs have minimal contact with their family and yet they don’t seem to be at a smaller risk of relapse

Question 13

EE

What contradicts Goldsteins research?

Answer 13

Doesn’t have to be a characteristic of families, can be a social environment

More research is required to validate the EE model in non-family environments

Question 14

EE

Outline the cause and effect evaluation point of EE

Answer 14

Is high EE the cause or effect of schiz?

May develop due to the burden of caring for a schiz