the interactionist approach

Question 1

interaction

Answer 1

interaction between biology and the environment

Question 2

original diathesis-stress model for SZ

Answer 2

meehl (1962) - vulnerability and stress trigger necessary for development of SZ
-schizogene
-environmental (schizophrenic mother)
-those without schizogene won’t develop SZ (both must be present)

Question 3

modern diathesis-stress model

Answer 3

-no single SZ gene (polygenic)
-vulnerability can be environmental and genetic
-read et al (2001) early traumatic events can alter the developing brain (more vulnerable to later stress)

Question 4

modern understanding of stress

Answer 4

Houston et al (2008) says many factors can risk triggering SZ
-biggest factor is THC-rich cannabis (increase by 7x - interfere with dopamine)

Question 5

evaluation

Answer 5

living in urban areas can double the risk compared to rural
-unknown why (stress or people with diathesis for SZ more likely to move to the city)

Question 6

treatment

Answer 6

-antipsychotic often used with CBT (acknowledging role of biology and environment)
-combining treatment more common in Uk than USA (healthcare systems)
-even if cause of SZ is biological, CBT can relive psychological symptoms

Question 7

supporting evidence for vulnerability and triggers

Answer 7

point - Tienari (2004) followed 19,000 Finnish adopted children (high vulnerability) and compared to controls (low vulnerability)
evidence - children with high vulnerability more likely to develop SZ (suggests its genetic)
-also in a household with low empathy and critical
explain - supports diathesis model (genetic only led to SZ with environment)

Question 8

supporting evidence for interaction between environment and biology

Answer 8

point - Tarrier (2004) randomly allocated 315 patients into 3 groups
evidence - group 1 (medication + CBT), group 2 (medication + counselling), group 3 (controls - only medication)
explain - patients treated with drugs and CBT had lower symptoms than those only taking drugs (SZ is biological + environmental)

Question 9

simplistic model

Answer 9

point - original model is too simplistic
evidence - SZ is aetiologically heterogeneous
-SZ is polygenic (108 genes)
-Houston (2008) environmental factors can trigger SZ (cannabis, family dysfunction, trauma)
explain - theory been through multiple revisions (supports latest version of there being multiple triggers + causes)