Interactionist Approach

• What does the interactionist approach acknowledge as causes of schizophrenia (Sz)?

  A range of causes interacting together, including biological, social, and psychological factors
• What is the diathesis-stress model in relation to schizophrenia?

  It explains that vulnerability to schizophrenia develops only if there is a trigger or stressor present
• What does the term 'diathesis' refer to in the diathesis-stress model?

  Vulnerability or predisposition
• What does 'stress' mean in the context of the diathesis-stress model?

  A stressor or trigger for the vulnerability
• How does the diathesis-stress model explain the development of schizophrenia?

  One or more underlying factors make a person vulnerable, but the disorder only develops if there is a trigger present
• Who proposed the traditional diathesis-stress model?

  Meehl (1962)
• What does the traditional diathesis-stress model suggest about genetic vulnerability?

  It is caused by a single schizophrenia gene
• What triggers the genetic vulnerability in the traditional diathesis-stress model?

  Difficulties in childhood relationships, such as a schizophrenogenic mother
• What does the modern diathesis-stress model include regarding diathesis?

  Multiple genes or non-genetic trauma, such as childhood sexual abuse
• What can act as a stressor in the modern diathesis-stress model?

  Any trigger that activates the vulnerability, including later life events
• How does cannabis relate to the risk of developing schizophrenia?

  Cannabis can increase the risk up to 7 times depending on dosage
• What was the procedure of Tienari's (2004) study?

  Hospital records were reviewed for women diagnosed with schizophrenia who had children adopted away
• What were the findings of Tienari's (2004) study regarding the development of schizophrenia?

  Of the 303 adoptees, 14 developed schizophrenia, with 11 from the high-risk group
• What protective effect was observed in Tienari's (2004) study?

  Being reared in a 'healthy' adoptive family appeared to have a protective effect
• What does Tienari's (2004) study support regarding the diathesis-stress model?

  It supports that the environment interacts with genetic vulnerability to affect the development of schizophrenia
• Why were the interviewing psychiatrists kept blind in Tienari's (2004) study?

  To reduce researcher bias and make the study more objective
• What is a strength of the interactionist approach in explaining schizophrenia?

  It provides a more holistic viewpoint, acknowledging the complexity of the disorder
• What is a limitation of the original diathesis-stress model?

  It is too simple, as diathesis and stress are more complex than originally proposed
• What are the practical applications of the interactionist approach?

  It combines therapy and medication for treatment
• What evidence supports the updated interactionist explanation of diathesis and stress?

  There are multiple biological and psychological factors affecting both diathesis and stress
• Why is it unlikely that a single diathesis and stressor can explain all cases of schizophrenia?

  Research shows that stressors can vary from person to person
• How does the interactionist approach treat schizophrenia?

  It acknowledges both biological and psychological factors, using a combination of treatments
• What was the procedure in Tarrier's (2004) study on treating schizophrenia?

  Patients were randomly assigned to different treatment groups: antipsychotics only, antipsychotics and CSE, or antipsychotics and counselling
• What did Tarrier's (2004) study find regarding symptoms and hospital readmissions?

  The combination treatment groups had fewer symptoms, but no difference in hospital readmissions
• What did Hogarty's (1986) study assess regarding relapse rates in schizophrenia?

  It assessed relapse rates in patients from high expressed emotion (EE) families
• What were the relapse rates found in Hogarty's (1986) study for different treatment combinations?

  19% for family therapy & drugs, 20% for social support & drugs, 41% for drugs alone, and 0% for social support, family therapy, and drugs
• What does Hogarty's (1986) study suggest about the effectiveness of the interactive approach to treating schizophrenia?

  It is the most effective for reducing relapse in high EE families
• What did the follow-up of Hogarty's (1986) study reveal about relapse rates?

  Similar relapse rates were found in all groups, suggesting that combination treatments might just delay relapse
• What is a benefit of combination treatment for schizophrenia according to the evaluation?

  It helps strengthen medication compliance and reduces symptoms
• How does the cost of combined treatment for schizophrenia compare to its long-term benefits?

  Although it is costly, the costs are offset by savings on inpatient care
• What is the treatment-aetiology fallacy in relation to schizophrenia?

  It is the assumption that just because a combination treatment is effective, the cause of schizophrenia must also be interactive