interactionist approach to explaining SZ

Question 1

why can the interactionist approach to SZ be referred to as a biosocial approach

Answer 1

acknowledges biological, social, psychological and societal factors in the development of SZ

Question 2

give 2 examples of the biological factors involved in the development of SZ

Answer 2

genetic vulnerability

neurochemical and neurological abnormality

Question 3

give an example of a psychological factor involved in the development of SZ

Answer 3

stress

Question 4

give an example of a societal factor involved in the development of SZ

Answer 4

poor quality interactions in the family

Question 5

what does the diathesis stress model say regarding the onset of SZ

Answer 5

both a vulnerability to SZ and a stress trigger are necessary in order to develop SZ

Question 6

What was in Meehl’s model for development of SZ

Answer 6

the diathesis was entirely genetic and caused by a single “schizogene”

this lead to a biologically based schizotypic personality who are sensitive to stress

if a person doesn’t have the schizogene then no amount of stress can lead to SZ. If the person has the gene and chronic stress through childhood and presence of a schizotypic mother could result in the development of the disorder

Question 7

give a characteristic of the schizotypic personality

Answer 7

sensitive to stress

Question 8

what is the modern understanding of diathesis

Answer 8

psychological trauma

Question 9

explain and name the type of model proposed by Read (2001)

Answer 9

neurodevelopmental

early trauma affects the developing brain
e.g: child abuse can affect brain development

Question 10

what part of the brain can cause a person to become more vulnerable to stress

Answer 10

Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) system can become overactive making a person more vulnerable to later stress

Question 11

what is the more modern definition of stress according to the diathesis stress model

Answer 11

anything that risks triggering SZ

Question 12

what is the more modern stressor that can increase the risk of a person developing SZ and how many times does this stressor increase the risk of developing SZ

Answer 12

cannabis = stressor

increases risk of developing SZ by up to 7x according to dose
(may be because cannabis interferes with the dopamine system)

Question 13

what treatment should be used according to the interactionist approach

Answer 13

CBT and antipsychotics

Question 14

explain what Turkington (2006) thinks regarding treatment for SZ

Answer 14

Treatment needs to be interactionist along with the explanation

Question 15

in the UK what treatments are commonly used for SZ

Answer 15

CBT and antipsychotics

Question 16

in the US what treatments are commonly used for SZ

Answer 16

antipsychotic drugs