Social Explanations of Schizophrenia Flashcards
What’s a catalyst for schizophrenia? What did Bateson et al state?
Relationships we have with our parents.
communication difficulties within the family result in schizophrenia symptoms.
what do social interactions send?
2 conflicting messages that the child does not have the opportunity to ignore or adequately respond = result in schizophrenia. Due to them not being able to meta-communicate.
What’s a form of double bind? what type of factor is it?
paralanguage (verbal/non verbal) - e.g. holding a child in a loving way but saying ‘i hate you, get away’.
risk factor.
what can long term exposure lead to?
lead to the children perceiving the world in terms of contradictory input that they are unable to discriminate between as they have internalised the double bind situation. This eventually leads to symptoms of schizophrenia as a means of escaping the contradictory demands.
What supporting research is there for the double bind theory?
Bateson = clinical evidence illustrating the use of double bind by parents and schizophrenics.
berger = questionnaire of 30 double bind statements, rate on a 4-point scale of how frequently they recall the use of statements. Schizophrenics – higher incidence but not significantly higher than other mental. Illnesses.
what contradictory research is there for the double bind theory?
Liem = parents of 11 sons with schizophrenia were no more disordered than the parents of 11 sons without schizophrenia. These studies may actually just be detecting parents having to adapt to their communication styles when dealing with a schizophrenic.
The double bind theory is therefore based on an effect rather than a cause.
what’s an alternative explanation for the double bind theory?
Could be argued its a symptom of mental illness in the parent. This means we cannot rule out genetic facotrs. Greater research is needed.
what was chlorpromazine used for?
What did Brown find?
widely used, stabilised, released from hospital, relapse.
Brown = 156 men, relapse was connected to the home they went into. %8% more likely to relapse if homed with parents or wives compared to 10% in lodging or with siblings.
What do family high in expressed emotion display?
Critical comments?
Hostility?
EOI?
Warmth?
Positive regard?
high levels of interpersonal conflcit, difficulties in communicating and listening, highly critical and controlling parenting.
Comments - ‘they are so lazy’ (high EE). Low EE acknowledged it was due to their illness.
Hostility = High EE – unmanageable anger, irritation and rejection of the patient.
Emotional overinvolvement - High EE – feeling guilty for their child’s illness and this led to excessive reparative efforts.
Warmth = Low EE – smiling and empathy expressed when talking about the schizophrenic.
Positive regard = Lacking in high EE – lacking in support and appreciation.
what supporting research is there for expressed emotion?
Vaughn and Leff, 53% who had high EE relapsed within 9 months whereas only 12% with low EE did.
Clear support for the role of expressed emotion in relapse rates could be explained by drug noncompliance though.
What contradictory research is there for expressed emotion?
McCreadie and Philips failed to find higher subsequent 6 months and 12 months relapse rates living in EE homes.
Doesnt support EE as a predictor for relapsing. Family communication is not the only factor. Its only a partial explanation.
What an alternative explanation for expressed emotion?
Family shared genes may also contribute rather than just communication difficulties.
108 genes associated with schizophrenia – contradicts EE theory.
It can be argued that using Diathesis stress model, family relationships may act as a psychological trigger that causes genetically vulnerable individuals.
