The interactionist approach to Schizophrenia

Question 1

What is the interactionist approach?

Answer 1

Acknowledges biological psychological and societal factors in the development in schiz

Question 2

What biological factors lead to schizophrenia?

Answer 2

• genetic vulnerability
• neurochemical abnormality
• neurological abnormality

Question 3

What psychological factors lead to schizophrenia

Answer 3

• stress
• life events
• daily hassels

Question 4

Outline the diathesis-stress model

Answer 4

diathesis=vulnerability
stress is the negative psychological experience
the model suggests that both a vulnerability to schiz and a stress trigger are necessary to develop schiz

• vulnerability + stress = schizophrenia

Question 5

Outline Meehls model

Answer 5

the diathesis was entirely genetic and the result of a single schizogene
this led to the development of a biologically based schiz personality characteristic of which is stress

• argues if the person doesnt have the gene no amount of stress will lead to schiz
• carriers who experience chronic stress cld develop the condition

Question 6

What did Ripke et al suggest about diathesis

Answer 6

theres no single schozogene

Question 7

What did Ingram and Luxton suggest about diathesis

Answer 7

diathesis ranges beyond genetics and includes psychological trauma
- trauma becomes the diathesis rather than the stressor

Question 8

What did Read et al suggest about diathesis

Answer 8

proposed a neurodevelopment model in which early trauma alters the brain
- early severe trauma can seriously affect aspects of the brain

Question 9

What did Huston et al suggest about stress?

Answer 9

suggested cannabis is a trigger
- it’s a stressor because it increases the risk of schiz up to 7x more because it interferes with the dopamine system

• however most ppl who smoke weed dont develop schiz so thre must be other vulnerability factors

Question 10

How is schizophrenia treated according to the interactionist approach

Answer 10

combines antipsychotic drugs with CBT

Question 11

Outline Turkington et als idea about treatments using the interactionist approach

Answer 11

Its possible to believe in biological causes and still practice CBT - this only works while adopting the interactionist model

Question 12

What are cultural differences in the use of CBT

Answer 12

in Britain the use of CBT and antipsychotics is a common practice but in the US there is a history of conflict between the biological and psychological models and they are slower in the uptake of the interactionist approach

Question 13

What are strengths of the interactionist approach

Answer 13

• supported by Tiernari
• support for the effectiveness of treatments

Question 14

Evaluate support from Tiernari as a strength of the interactionist approach

Answer 14

• evidence supports the dual role of vulnerability and stress
• Tienari investigated the combination of genetic vulnerability and parenting style (trigger). Adopted children from 19000 Finnish mothers with szhiz were followed up. Adoptive parents were assessed for child-rearing style and rates of schiz were compared to a control group. Child rearing style characterised by high levels of criticism and low empaths was implicated in the development of this but only for children with a high genetic risk
• suggests both genetic vulnerability and family related stress are important in the development of schiz.

Question 15

Evaluate support for combinations of treatments as a strength of the interactionist approach