schiz- interactionist explanation

Question 1

What did Tarrier do

Answer 1

Tarrier et al (2004) used 315 patients with schizophrenia and randomly allocated them to one of 3 groups: antipsychotics and CBT, antipsychotics and supportive counselling or a control group of antipsychotics alone.Patients in the two combined groups showed significantly lower symptom levels than the control group.

Question 2

What did Tarrier’s results show

Answer 2

Patients in the two combined groups showed significantly lower symptom levels than the control group.

Question 3

How many participants did Tarries use

Answer 3

315

Question 4

What does diathesis mean in reference to Schiz

Answer 4

An inherited predisposition (or vulnerability) to develop schizophrenia.

Question 5

What does stress mean in reference to schiz

Answer 5

Environmental factors could bring out or trigger this vulnerability and lead to people developing schizophrenia.

Question 6

What did Meehls original diathesis solely include

Answer 6

GeneticsSchiz was entirely caused by the result of a single schizogene

Question 7

According to Meehl, if a person does not have the schizogene, then no amount of ____ would lead to schizophrenia.

Answer 7

Stress

Question 8

What did Meehl’s origninal claim about diathesis lead to

Answer 8

The development of a biologically based schizotypic personality, one characteristic of which is sensitivity to stress.

Question 9

What did Meehls say could bring out schizoprenia in the carrier of the gene

Answer 9

-Chronic stress through childhood and adolescence. -In particular in the presence of the schizophrenic mother, could result in the development of the condition.

Question 10

How may the ADDITIVE nature of the diathesis stress model effect those with low genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia

Answer 10

It may take a major stressful and chronic event to trigger the onset of schizophrenia

Question 11

How may the ADDITIVE nature of the diathesis stress model effect those with high genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia

Answer 11

Relatively minor stressors may lead to the onset of schizophrenia

Question 12

Evaluation of the interactionist explanation- Evidence to support, Tienari

Answer 12

P- The diathesis-stress model incorporating nature and nurture in schizophrenia is well supported by adoption research.E-Tienari et al. (2004) considered genetic risks and parenting style in a huge adoption study (involving 19,000 Finnish mothers with schizophrenia). Biological parents were assessed for rates of schizophrenia and adoptive parents had their child-rearing styles assessed. E- Results showed child-rearing styles that contained high levels of criticism/conflict and low empathy were implicated in the development of schizophrenia, but only for those with a high genetic risk.L-This implies that both genetic risk (nature) and family related stress (nurture) are both vindicated in the cause of schizophrenia, supporting the diathesis-stress account.

Question 13

Evaluation of the interactionist explanation- Original diathesis was an oversimplification-

Answer 13

P- The original diathesis stress model was an oversimplification.E-We now know that multiple factors contribute to the development of schizophrenia. It involves multiple genes and diathesis influenced by psychological factors and stress can be both biological and psychological.E- Houston (2008) argued that child sexual abuse is major influence and cannabis use is a major trigger in cases of schizophreniaL- This suggests that… our current understanding of the diathesis-stress model is a more appropriate and useful explanation for schizophrenia.

Question 14

Evaluation of the interactionist explanation- Evidence, Joseph

Answer 14

P- The interactionist approach to explaining schizophrenia has further support from twin studies.E- For example, Joseph found MZ twins have a concordance of 40%, with DZ twins at 7% (similar to Gottesmans instrumental findings) As MZ twins share 100% of their DNA, is can be assumed they will have the same biological vulnerabilities (diathesis). However, we can also assume they have similar environmental influences but not EXACTLY the same stressors. E- Hence, the interaction of both the diathesis and diverse stressors could explain this low levelL- This indicates that an interactionist approach is well validated and could explain more incidence of schizophrenia than biological or psychological explanations alone.

Question 15

Joseph found MZ twins have a concordance of __%, with DZ twins at _%

Answer 15

407

Question 16

Evaluation of the interactionist explanation- Practical applications

Answer 16

P- The diathesis-stress model has developed / warranted a strong practical application of combined therapy, that tackles biological and psychological factors of schizophrenia simultaneously. E- Tarrier et al (2004) used 315 patients with schizophrenia and randomly allocated them to one of 3 groups: antipsychotics and CBT; antipsychotics and supportive counselling; or a control group of antipsychotics alone.E-Patients in the two combined groups showed significantly lower symptom levels than the control group, suggesting drug-therapy and psychological therapy combined is the most effective.L- This implies the interactionist approach to explaining schizophrenia has helped reduce the distress experienced by many patients.

Question 17

Evaluation of the interactionist explanation- Methodological flaws

Answer 17

P- Although the model makes rational sense, it does not explain how stress impacts the nervous system to trigger the condition.E- For example, the model does not illustrate exactly how urban living could inflate dopamine levels or create hypofrontality in patients suffering schizophrenia.L- This implies that more research is needed to understand the full dynamics of the diathesis-stress model.