The Interactionist Approach to Schizophrenia

Question 1

Define the interactionist approach and the diathesis-stress model

Answer 1

Interactionist approach- A broad explanation for the development of schizophrenia, including psychological and biological factors.
Diathesis-stress model- An interactionist approach to explaining development of schizophrenia being as the result of a diathesis (vulnerability) and a stress (trigger). Older versions of the model believed that diathesis was only genetic and stress factors were only psychological, but this isn’t the case with modern explanations.

Question 2

Explain Mheels model of diathesis-stress

Answer 2

Explained vulnerability being entirely genetic, and a result of a single ‘schizo-gene’, which led to the creation of a schizotypic personality characterised by sensitivity to stress. No amount of stress could trigger schizophrenia without the schizo-gene, apart from maybe the schizophrenogenic mother.

Question 3

Explain modern understanding of diathesis

Answer 3

Ripke et al- Schizogene idea is false as multiple genes, each increase risk of schizophrenia SLIGHTLY.
Ingram and Luxton - Psychological factors ie) Trauma can be diathesis.
Read et al- example of trauma being diathesis is how serious childhood trauma can lead to issues in brain development ie) Hyperthalamic-pituitary-adrenal being overactive, so increased vulnerability to later stress.

Question 4

Explain the modern understanding of stress

Answer 4

Stress is no longer only psychological in nature. Houston et al- Stress is anything that can trigger or lead to the onset of schizophrenia. ie) Cannabis, because it effects the dopamine system and increases risk of schizophrenia 7X depending on dosage.

Question 5

Explain the treatment according to the interactionist model

Answer 5

Both psychological (CBT) and biological (antipsychotics). According to Turkinton et al an interactionist approach for treatment combinations is vital. Britain uses interactionist approach more than the U.S.

Question 6

What is the AO3 for the interactionist approach?

Answer 6

Evidence for diathesis-stress ie) Tienari et al’s adopted children of 19,000 Finnish schizophrenic mothers 1960-79 study.
Evidence for effectiveness of combination treatments ie)Terrier et al 3 groups, control, med+cbt and med and supportive councelling study.
Older diathesis-stress model was way too over simplified ie)Huston et al, Cannabis =stress and childhood sexual trauma =vulnerability.
Treatment causation fallacy ie)Turkington et al
We don’t know exactly how diathesis and stress work.