SCHIZOPHRENIA - interactionist approach

Question 1

summarise the interactionist approach.

Answer 1

• acknowledges there are biological, psychological and societal factors in the development of schizophrenia.

Biological = genetic vulnerability, neurochemical and neurological abnormality

Psychological = stress, life events, daily hassles

Societal = poor quality interactions

Question 2

Summarise the Diathesis stress model.

Answer 2

Diathesis = vulnerability
Stress = a negative experience

• DTM suggests that, to develop schizophrenia both of vulnerability and stress trigger have to be present.

Question 3

Summarise Meehl original diathesis stress model (1962).

Answer 3

Believed that vulnerability was entirely genetic, a result of schizogene.

schizogene = leads to a biologically based schizotypic personality

If a person doesn’t have the schizogene, no amount of stress would lead to schizophrenia.

Question 4

Summarise the modern diathesis stress model.

Answer 4

Ripke et al (2014) = no single schizogene, there are many genes
- factors such as psychological trauma becomes the diathesis (vulnerability) rather than the stressor.

Read et al (2001) = neurodevelopmental model = early trauma alters the developing brain. The HPA becomes overactive = more vulnerable to schizophrenia.

Question 5

Summarise the modern understanding of stress.

Answer 5

• the modern definition of stress includes anything that risks triggering schizophrenia

Factors triggering an episode of schizophrenia = cannabis use

Cannabis can increase the risk of schizophrenia by 7 times, because it interferes with the dopamine system.

Question 6

Summarise an interactionist approach to treatment for schizophrenia.

Answer 6

Compatible for biological + psychological = antipsychotics combined with CBT,

Turkington et al (2006) = possible to believe in biological causes of schizophrenia and still practice CBT to relieve psychological symptoms = interactionist approach to treating.

Question 7

Give strength of the interactionist approach.

Answer 7

+ Tienari (2004) = finland studies = babies from schizophrenogenic mothers were adopted. Adoptive parents were assessed for childrearing styles and rates of schizophrenia were compared to those in a control group.
Control group babies = given to nice mums
Others were given to mean mothers who had high levels of criticism and no empathy = this group are more likely to develop schizophrenia = shows that vulnerability and stress need to be present.

+ Tarrier (2004) = 315 patients were randomly allocated to a medication + CBT group, medication + counselling or medication only.
Patients in the two combinations = showed lower symptom levels than control. Adopting an interactionist approach is advantageous.

Question 8

Give limitations of the interactionist approach.

Answer 8

• original diathesis stress model is over simple= more recent research says that vulnerability can be caused by a range of things: early trauma, genetic factors. Stress can be biological or psychological. Diathesis and stress are complex.