internationalist explanation for sz

Question 1

what is the interactionist approach to sz?

Answer 1

• development of sz is due to combined effects and interaction of biological and psychological factors

Question 2

what is the diathesis- stress model ?

Answer 2

• psychological concept that a disorder is due to the interaction between=
• predisposed vulnerability
• environment trigger

Question 3

diathesis in sz?

Answer 3

• genetic vulnerability potentially a result of a dopamine imbalance
• non genetic diathesis is considered: flu in pregnant mothers or birth complications
• early psychological trauma as a child influences brain developement= diathesis

Question 4

how sz is triggered by a stressor?

Answer 4

• a later negative environmental experience e.g. family dysfunction, emotional stress/anxiety or major negative life event
• emotional event triggers the disorder
• drug abuse can also be a trigger

Question 5

Evaluation of explaining sz through interactionism: Gottesman twin studies

Answer 5

• concordance rate of 48% for identical twins
• 17% concordance rate for non identical twins
• compares to gen pop of 1%
• role for biological/genetic factors as identical twins share 100% of their DNA
• but because its not 100% concordance it suggests there must be some psychological trigger

Question 6

Evaluation of explaining sz through interactionism: Tiernari adoption studies

Answer 6

• 5.8% of children adopted into psychologically healthy families developed sz
• 36.8% raised in dysfunctional families developed sz
• supports influence of biological factors= high rate in psychologically healthy families
• supports psychological trigger= even higher when family is dysfunctional

Question 7

intercationalist way of treating sz

Answer 7

• using both biological aspects like drug therapies and psychological aspects like CBT to address the causes of sz

Question 8

how both biological and psychological treatments help

Answer 8

• biological= allow the patient to reduce symptoms so they can engage with psychological therapies
• CBT= give sufferers the cognitive skills needed to change their underlying faulty cognitions

Question 9

Evidence of difference between routine care(drugs) and routine care with CBT

Answer 9

• Tarrier (1998): patients randomly placed in routine care or routine care with CBT
• patients that had both had significant improvement in severity and number of pos symptoms + fewer days in hospital receiving care
• interactionist approach is more effective that just drugs

Question 10

Evaluation of treating: how the diathesis stress model has changed with new evidence

Answer 10

• no longer thought of as a single gene but is considered polygenic and includes vulnerabilities e.g. early trauma
• which can alter neurological development
• understanding the risk of triggers has developed to include factors like drug abuse

Question 10

Evaluation of treating: holistic exlpanation

Answer 10

• holistic explanation of human behaviour
• considered a range of complex causal factors
• more valid than reducing it down to biological or psychological factors

Question 11

Evaluation of treating: considers nature v nurture debate

Answer 11

• considers the relative importance of both hereditary and environmental influences

Question 12

Evaluation of treating: not 100% sure negative experience triggers symptoms

Answer 12

• the fundamental mechanism by which a negative psychological event actually triggers a complex biological response resulting in sz symptoms is uncertain
• reducing confidence in the approach as a full explanation