interactionist approach

Question 1

ao1 for the interactionist approach

Answer 1

• the diathesis stress model sees schizophrenia as a result of a combination of psyhological, biological and environmental influences.
  the approach recognises a variety of contributing factors int the development of schizophrenia

Question 2

explain the diathesis stress model

Answer 2

diathesis - known as the genetic vulnerability
stress - negative experience childhood trauma
both are needed in order for the condition to develop
- the additive nature of the diatehesis stress - tit may be that an individual has high genetic vulnerability and therefore requires less stressor to trigger the condition

Question 3

first diathesis stress model and who was it created by

Answer 3

• Meehl’s model (1962)
  the vulnerabilty was seen as enitrely genetic so no double bind etc
  an individual was said to have a one gene - schizogene which resulted in a schizotypic personality which was characterised by an individual who was particular sensitive to stress
  chronic stress in childhood coulld result in sz
  without the gene and sensitivity to stress there would be no sz

Question 4

newer diathesis stress model

Answer 4

the modern understanding of diathesis in light of new research doesn’t just stem from genetics ( beyond genes) or just one gene
polygenetic - ripke 2014

(vulnerability) so the diathesis in this case can also be caused by psychological trauma

the modern understanding of stress

orgiinally stress was seen as psychological in nature particularly in relation to parenting style
now ‘stress’ is considered anything that risks triggering sz
eg Cannabis use (Houston et al 2008) 7x more likely at developing sz

to conclude out understanding of diathesis and stress has evolved massively

Question 5

supporting evidence for this model

Answer 5

tienari et al (2004) illustrated in his stud y the dual role of vulnerability and stress

• specifically genetic vulnerabilty and parenting styles
• children adopted from 19,000 finish mothers wirth sz between 1960-1979
  adoptive parents were assesed for parenting styles
  compared to control group (no sz so low genetic risk)
  child rearing style with high levels of critism and conflict and low levels of empathy implicated in the development of sz in high risk adoptees but only in the high genetic risk group
  suggests the genetic vulnerabilty and family related stress contributes to the onset of sz

Question 6

disadvantage to this model

Answer 6

• the idea of a single schizogene mixed with stress of schixopernic parenting is very simplistic
  eg - the complex of vulnerability is reductionist just ‘one’ gene
  new evidence such as polygenic genes for sz by Ripke et al 2014 and also the idea that stress comes in many forms and it is not limited to dysfunctional parenting

eg houston et al 2008 secual abuse in childhood as a majour influence of underlying vulnerabilty to sz and cannabis as a majour trigger
these studies and ideas supports the modern understanding of the diathesis stress model
epigentics

Question 7

real world application

Answer 7

combination of biological and psychological treatments

studies show that combining treatments enhance their effectiveness in the treatment of schizophernia

Tarrrier et al (2004)
315 pps assigned to
medication + cbt
medication + counselling
medication only - control group
combination of treatments showed a greater reduction in symptom severity
- this piece of supporting evidence demonstrates the value of adopting the interactionist approach especially in the treatment of schizophernia based on the superior treatment out comes. The interactionist approach an be praised as it has evolved this treatment to help reduce the severity of symptoms in patients and improve the quality of their day to day life