Token economies- Schizophrenia

Question 1

What are token economies?

Answer 1

Reward systems used to manage/modify behaviour of people with sz

Question 2

What’s the aim of token economies

Answer 2

-focus on making behaviours more socially acceptable rather than reduce symptoms
-aimed at people who want to return to society

Example of bad behaviour due to being institutionalised-
-refusing to get out of bed
-refusing to take meds
-not getting dressed

Question 3

What’s involved with token economies?

Answer 3

-target behaviours are put on individuals so rewards are personal
-when patient shows target behaviour that’s desirable: awarded immediately
Eg. Sweets, watching tv etc

Question 4

What is token economy based upon?
What can the systems help to treat?

Answer 4

Operant conditioning
Helps treat avolition- which is a lack of motivation

Question 5

A03- strengths

Answer 5

Evidence to support Glowacki et al
- 7 studies all showed reduction in negative symptoms and decline in unwanted behaviour
-supports value of using token economies

Question 6

A03- weaknesses

Answer 6

-not realistic: difficult to continue out of hospital, behaviour cannot be monitored

• lead to high remittance rates as not normal to reward behaviours in community
• raised ethical issues: restricting rewards from people with mental health disorders - psychological harm and social control
  -impacts freedom