The Interactionist Approach

Question 1

what is the interactionist approach

Answer 1

taking into account both biological and psychological factors when considering the development of SZ

Question 2

what is the diathesis stress model

Answer 2

a vulnerability to SZ and a stress trigger are necessary in order to develop the disorder

Question 3

outline meelhs diathesis stress model

1962

Answer 3

• the vulnerability is purely genetic
• there is a personality - “schizotype” that is more sensitive to stress
• if you dont have the gene, no amount of stress will cause SZ

Question 4

explain the key study into the interactionist approach (procedure)

tiearni et al

Answer 4

• hospital records for 20,000 women who had been diagnosed with SZ were reviewed
• the list was checked to find the mothers who had one or more olf their children adopted away
• the resulting sample of 145 adopted away offspring (high risk group) was matched with a sample of 158 adoptees without the risk (low risk group)
• both groups were assesed after 12 years and 21 years
• family functioning was also assesed

Question 5

explain the key study into the interactionist approach (findings)

tiearni et al

Answer 5

• of the 303 adoptees, 14 developed SZ over the course of the study
• 11 were from the high risk group
• suggests there is a genetic predisposition but the stressful events can trigger the disorder with 36.8% in dysfunctional families

Question 6

outline gottesmans research

Answer 6

• reviewed SZ cases
• 48% concordance rate in identical twins
• 17% for non identical

Question 7

what is tghe treatment according to the interactionist approach

Answer 7

combining drug treatment with therapy

Question 8

outline supproting research into the interactionist approach to treatment

Answer 8

tarrier et al

• patients randomly placed in routine care or routine care and CBT
• patients in combined treatment group had improvement in positive symptoms
• suggets interactionist approach is most effective

Question 9

give 2 strengths of interactionist approach

Answer 9

• supporting evidence - gottesman + tarrier
• practical application - interactionist treatment

Question 10

give 2 limitations of the interactionist approach

Answer 10

• mechanisms about how stress trioggers biological factors is unclear
• treatment doesnt succesfully identify the cause