discuss the interactionist approach to explaining and treating schizophrenia

Question 1

outline explaining schizophrenia

Answer 1

this approach acknowledges that a range of biological, psychological and societal factors are involved in the development of schizophrenia

diathesis-stress model is an interactionist approach to schiz, arguing that both an underlying genetic vulnerability (diathesis) and an environmental trigger (stress) is necessary for the onset

Meehl’s 1962 diathesis stress model
- diathesis (vulnerability) for schiz is due to result of a singular ‘schizogene’, no diathesis then no amount of stress would lead to schiz
- stress for schiz is negative psychological experience
- chronic stress in someone with diathesis could result in schiz
- it is thought diathesis and stress add together in some way to produce schiz

modern understanding’;
- now believed diathesis is not due to single schizogene
- instead believed many genes increase vulnerability
- also, diathesis doesnt have to be genetic as early psychological trauma affects brain development
- e.g. child abuse affects HPA system, making a child more vulerable to stress

Question 2

outline treating schizophrenia

Answer 2

as the interactionist approach acknowledges both biological and psychological factors in schizophrenia, it is associated with combining antipsychotic medication and psychological therapies

in britain - increasingly standard practice to treat patients with combination of antipsychotic drugs and cbt

in usa - more of a history of conflict between psychological and biological models of schizophrenia and this may have led to slower adoption of the interactionist approach so, medication alone is more common

it is unusual to treat schiz using psychological therapies alone. cbt, family therapy and use of token economies with sufferers of schiz are usually carried out with patients taking antipsychotics

Question 3

strength 1

Answer 3

supporting research evidence

tarrier et al 2004

randomly allocated 315 patients to 3 groups: medication + CBT, medication + supportive counselling group, or control group.

it was found combination groups showed lower levels of symptoms than those in control

this suggests an interactionist approach is more appropriate when it comes to treating schizophrenia, addressing biological & environmental trigger

Question 4

limit 1

Answer 4

original diathesis-stress model is too simplistic

this is because the original model suggests diathesis is purely biological and that stress is only psychological

however, researchers such as houston et al 2008 found childhood sexual trauma was a diathesis and cannabis use a trigger

this suggests the old idea of diathesis as biological and stress as psychological has turned out to be overly simple

Question 5

limit 2

Answer 5

negative economic implications for society

this is because combined treatments have a higher cost than one treatment alone

e.g. NHS would have to pay for the antipsychotic drugs along with their psychological treatment which alone can be extremely expensive

this suggests combined treatments are not as practical as singular treatments due to the higher cost of them