AO3

• 1. Limitation: Diathesis and Stress are Complex

  • The original model which portrayed diathesis as a single schizogene and portrayed stress as schizophrenogenic parenting is simplistic
  • Multiple genes in multiple compilations influences diathesis
  • Stress comes from many forms not just parenting, can be biological and psychological (Houston, 2008)
  • childhood sexual abuse = major influence on underlying vulnerability to SCH and cannabis use as the major trigger
  • Multiple factors = limits Diathesis
• What was Tienari's (2004) research which supported the vulnerability and triggers? (Diathesis - SCH)

  • 19,000 Finnish children with biological mothers with SCH
  • In adulthood this high genetic risk group was compared to a control group of adoptees without a family history of SCH (low risk)
  • Adoptive parents = assessed on parent style
  • High levels of criticism, and low levels of empathy were associated with the development of SCH but only in the high risk group
  • Shows that a combination of genetic vulnerability and family stress can lead to greatly increased risk of SCH
• 1. Strength - Real-world Application (Diathesis - SCH)

  • By acknowledging both biological and psychological factors in SCH = combination of drug therapy and psychological therapies
  • Studies show that combining treatments enhances their effectiveness:
  • Tarrier (2004) randomly allocated 315 ptpts to [1] Medication + CBT [2] Medication and Counselling, [3] Medication only (control)
  • Ptpts with two combinations showed lower symptoms following the trial than the control group; though there was no difference in hospital readmission
  • Advantage to using an interactionist approach for treating SCH
• 2. Counter-Point - Real World Application (Diathesis - SCH)

  • Jarvis and Okami: points out the logical error called the 'treatment-causation fallacy' basically using the same logic as shyness = reduced by alcohol, so lack of alcohol = shyness
  • Cannot automatically assume the success of combined therapies means interactionist explanations are correct