schizophrenia : the interactionist approach ao3

Question 1

Supporting evidence

Answer 1

P: there is research to support a dual role of vulnerability and stress (Tienari et al., 2004) in the dev of schiz
E: * Children adopted from 19000 Finnish mothers with schizophrenia between 1960 and 1979)
* Adoptive parents were assessed for parenting style
* Compared to control group.
E* Child rearing style w. High levels of criticism and conflict and low levels of empathy - implicated in the development of schizophrenia in high risk adoptees.
L; * Suggests that genetic vulnerability and family related stress can contributed to the onset of schizophrenia which is what diathesis stress model sugggets.

Question 2

Overly simplistic

Answer 2

P: • The idea of a single schizogene mixed with the stress of schizophrenic parenting is very simplistic.
E: • Polygenic (Ripke, 2014)) + stress comes in many forms and is not limited to dysfunctional parenting.
• E.g. Houston et al. (2008) - sexual abuse in childhood as a major influence on underlying vulnerability to schizophrenia and cannabis use as a major trigger.
E+L: • Supports the modern understanding of diathesis and stress buts weakens the og diatheisis stress which only focuses on one gene and dysfunctional parenting

Question 3

Real world application

Answer 3

P: interactionist approach gave rise to the use of a Combination of biological and psychological treatments
E: Studies show that combining treatments enhance their effectiveness in the treatment of schizophrenia.
• Tarrier et al. (2004)
• 315 participants assigned to (1) Medication + CBT (2) Medication + Counselling (3) Medication
only (control)
• Combination treatments showed greater reduction in symptom severity.
E*L: Clear practical advantage to adopting an interactionist approach in the treatment of schizophrenia based on the superior treatment outcomes.