SCHZ 5 Flashcards
(17 cards)
What does the interactionist approach consider as causes of schizophrenia symptoms?
A combination of biological, psychological, and social factors
This approach integrates multiple influences rather than attributing symptoms to a single cause.
What model explains the mechanism behind the interactionist approach?
Diathesis-stress model
This model outlines how vulnerabilities and stressors interact to trigger schizophrenia.
Define diathesis in the context of schizophrenia.
An internal vulnerability to schizophrenia
Originally thought to be primarily genetic.
What factors are now considered potential diatheses for schizophrenia?
- Pregnant mothers having the flu late in pregnancy
- Early psychological trauma, like child abuse
These factors can influence brain development and increase vulnerability.
What is required for schizophrenia to be triggered according to the diathesis-stress model?
A stressor, a major negative psychological experience
Examples include adverse life events and drug abuse.
List some examples of stressors that may trigger schizophrenia.
- Adverse life events
- Dysfunctional family relationships
- Intense stress like academic pressure
- Drug abuse, such as cannabis use
These stressors can interact with underlying vulnerabilities.
What was the concordance rate for schizophrenia in monozygotic twins according to the Gottesman Family Study?
48%
This suggests that genetics alone cannot fully account for the disorder.
What does a 100% concordance rate in twins imply about schizophrenia?
It would suggest that the disorder is purely genetic
The Gottesman study shows the complexity of genetic and environmental interactions.
What did the Tienari Study find regarding adopted children of biological schizophrenic mothers?
Higher rates of schizophrenia in adopted children compared to the background population
1% in the general population vs. 36.8% in dysfunctional families.
What was the schizophrenia rate in children adopted into psychologically healthy families according to the Tienari Study?
5.8%
This indicates the protective role of a healthy environment against the diathesis.
What type of treatment does the interactionist approach advocate?
Combination of anti-psychotic medication with psychological talking therapies like CBT
This integrated approach aims to address both biological and psychological factors.
Why might severe schizophrenia affect a patient’s ability to engage in CBT?
It may prevent patients from engaging in therapy
Medication can help reduce symptoms, making therapy more feasible.
What were the findings of Tarrier’s research regarding combination therapy?
Significant improvement in severity and number of positive symptoms
Patients in the combination group spent fewer days in the hospital.
How has the diathesis-stress model evolved over time?
Expanded from a single gene focus to polygenic influences and other vulnerabilities
New research has highlighted the role of early emotional trauma.
What is a holistic explanation in the context of the interactionist approach?
It considers a complex range of causal factors
This may provide a more valid explanation of schizophrenia.
What debate does the interactionist approach consider?
Nature vs. nurture
It examines the importance of both hereditary and environmental influences.
What limitation does the interactionist approach face?
The fundamental mechanism by which a negative psychological event triggers biological symptoms is uncertain
This uncertainty reduces confidence in the approach as a complete explanation.
