Schizophrenia- Interactionist Approach

Question 1

What is the interactionist approach?

Answer 1

It acknowledges that there are biological, psychological and societal factors in the development of schizophrenia

Question 2

What are the biological factors?

Answer 2

Genetic vulnerability, neurochemical and neurological abnormalties

Question 3

What are the psychological factors?

Answer 3

Stress (resulting from life events and daily hassles), poor quality interactions in the family

Question 4

What is the diathesis-stress model?

Answer 4

Means when an individual has a predisposition to a medical condition

Diathesis= vulnerability
Stress= a negative psychological experience

Question 5

What does the diathesis-stress model suggest about SZ?

Answer 5

It says a vulnerability to schizophrenia AND a stress-trigger are necessary in order to develop the condition.

Question 6

What is examples of the diathesis?

Answer 6

1) Genetic factors
2) Exposure to the flu virus during gestation can alter the development of the nervous system making people more predisposed to develop SZ
3) Birth complications can alter the central nervous system functioning and development

Question 7

What is examples of the stress?

Answer 7

1) Family dysfunction
2) Trauma- abuse and/or neglect
3) Parenting style
4) Exposure to particular chemicals e.g. cannabis

Question 8

Meehic (1962) and Ripke et al

Answer 8

Meehic (1962): the original diathesis-stress model; diathesis is entirely genetic and the result of a singular schizogene

Ripke et al: argues this assumption is wrong as we now know that SZ is polygenic; they say there are at least 108 genes leading to the development of schizophrenia

Question 9

Treatments according to the interactionist model

Answer 9

Interactionist model reflects the combination method of using both biological and psychological treatments simultaneously

The combination is best affected by each patients individual circumstances and needs

Question 10

AO3 of the interactionist approach

Answer 10

• Recognises both nature and nurture have an influence on the development of SZ
• Can explain why when 2 individuals experience trauma one may develop a severe mental disorder (like SZ) and the other my recover quickly
• Treatments based on the diathesis stress model are more expensive than biological alone, but may make it cheaper in the short-term by making hospitalisation less likely

Question 11

[S] Tienari et al (2004)

Answer 11

Followed 19,000 children adopted from Finnish mothers with schizophrenia. The adoptive parents were assessed for child-rearing styles

Question 12

Tienari et al (2004)
Findings?

Answer 12

They found that a child-rearing style characterised by high levels of critism and conflict and low levels of empathy were implicated in the development of schizophrenia but only for children with high genetic risk

This suggests that both genetic vulnerability and family-related stress are important in the development of SZ.