The interactionist approach

• Outline the interactionist approach to explaining

  schizophrenia.

  Singular explanations for schizophrenia are often criticised for being failing to consider the multiple factors involved in the complex disorder of schizophrenia.

  The interactionist explanation therefore emphasises that multiple factors are involved in the development of schizophrenia.

  These can include biological factors (e.g. genes), psychological factors (e.g. coping mechanisms) and environmental factors (e.g. family dysfunction, a traumatic event etc.)
• Outline the interactionist approach to explaining

  schizophrenia.

  The diathesis-stress model is an example of an interactionist explanation that proposes that schizophrenia can only develop if the individual has a vulnerability to developing the disorder as well as a stressor that acts as a trigger.
• Outline the interactionist approach to explaining

  schizophrenia.

  In the original diathesis-stress model, the diathesis/vulnerability was always a genetic one while stressors could include various triggers such as trauma, family dysfunction, cannabis use etc.
• Outline the interactionist approach to explaining

  schizophrenia.

  In the more modern diathesis-stress model, the diathesis/vulnerability could be various things that could make you later more vulnerable to developing schizophrenia such as a genetic vulnerability, early birth complications, childhood trauma etc.
• Evaluate the interactionist approach to explaining

  schizophrenia: supporting evidence. 


  E.g. research has found that MZ twins who share 100% of their genes have higher concordance rates than DZ twins who share 50% of their genes. Though concordance rates in MZ twins are never 100%. This is a strength because it suggests that while genetics do play a role (hence the higher concordance rates), other factors must also be involved such as environmental triggers (hence why MZ twins do not share a 100% concordance rate despite sharing the same genes).
• Evaluate the interactionist approach: explains the differences in how schizophrenia presents. 


  People experience different symptoms e.g. one might experience more positive symptoms while another might experience more negative symptoms . This is a strength because singular, reductionist explanations fail to explain the diversity of symptoms given there is a supposed singular cause. The interactionist approach is better able to explain the diversity of symptoms because different people may have different types of vulnerabilities or stressors that interact to result in different symptoms.
• Evaluate the interactionist approach to explaining

  schizophrenia: lacks explanatory power. 


  This is because it simply states the multiple factors that may be involved in the development of schizophrenia but fails to explain how they interact and how different combinations can lead to different symptoms. This is a limitation because it suggests that the interactionist explanation for schizophrenia is not yet fully developed.
• Evaluate the interactionist approach to explaining

  schizophrenia: effective treatments. 


  This is because it considers multiple factors involved in schizophrenia so encourages a more holistic treatment programme whereby the multiple variable involved can be targeted. E.g. it is now common practice that schizophrenia patients are given medication as well as talking therapies. This is a strength because the therapies are found to be more effective when combined than when used on their own as a singular treatment.
• Outline the interactionist approach to treating schizophrenia.

  Singular treatments (e.g. drug therapy, family therapy or CBT) are often not sufficient when it comes to treating schizophrenia.

  E.g. only 70% of schizophrenic patients report reduced symptoms when taking antipsychotic medication, suggesting that there may be other factors involved in their disorder that also need addressing (e.g. environmental circumstances such as family dysfunction.
• Outline the interactionist approach to treating schizophrenia.

  The interactionist approach to treating schizophrenia was therefore developed from the interactionist approach to explaining schizophrenia.

  This is because it is recognised that various biological, psychological and environmental factors contribute to the development of schizophrenia and so treatments should involve addressing these various factors.
• Outline the interactionist approach to treating schizophrenia.

  As a result, the interactionist approach to treating schizophrenia involves a combination of treatments, with patients typically receiving a drug therapy alongside a psychological therapy.

  This means that many schizophrenic individuals will be offered antipsychotic medication (to address the biological factors) and CBT or family therapy (to address the psychological and environmental factors).
• Evaluate the interactionist approach to treating schizophrenia: supporting evidence.

  E.g. research has shown that patients in the early stages of schizophrenia who receive a combination of antipsychotics and a psychological therapy have improved quality of life and social functioning and are less likely to discontinue treatment or relapse than those taking antipsychotics alone. This is a strength as it suggests a combination of treatments is more effective than a singular treatment.
• Evaluate the interactionist approach to treating schizophrenia: contradictory evidence.


  E.g. some studies have found that combining treatments has not been appropriate for all schizophrenic patients. This is because severe schizophrenic patients receiving both drug therapies and CBT may interpret the side effects of their drugs in a delusional manner (the drugs are trying to harm them) so may mistrust their therapist. This is a limitation because the patient may resist any further psychological treatment which means they wouldn’t be treated or at an increased risk of relapse.
• Evaluate the interactionist approach to treating schizophrenia: more costly than singular treatment programmes.


  This is because a combination of drug and psychological therapies will cost more money for the NHS in terms of developing and prescribing drugs as well as training and funding therapists. This is a limitation because the NHS is often under-funded and so they may not be able to offer interactionist treatments in practice.