Interactionist Approach

• What does the Interactionist approach acknowledge in relation to schizophrenia?

  It acknowledges multiple factors involved in development
• What is the Diathesis-stress Model in relation to schizophrenia?

  • Vulnerability to schizophrenia and stress trigger needed
  • Predisposition may be triggered by everyday stress
  • Supportive environments can prevent illness development
• Who suggested that a person may be born with a predisposition towards schizophrenia?

  Zubin and Spring
• What do concordance rates suggest about the development of schizophrenia?

  Environmental factors also play a role
• How do MZ twins relate to the study of schizophrenia?

  They may share genetic vulnerability but differ in stressors
• What did Tienari et al. (2004) find about adopted children from families with schizophrenia?

  They had a higher chance of developing schizophrenia
• How does a supportive family environment affect children from families with schizophrenia?

  It reduces the likelihood of developing the illness
• What are the implications of the holistic view in the Interactionist approach?

  • Recognizes different triggers and genes
  • Allows for personalized treatment plans
  • Enhances treatment effectiveness for schizophrenia
• What did Falloon et al. (1996) suggest about stress and acute episodes of schizophrenia?

  Stress floods the brain with neurotransmitters
• What percentage of people with acute schizophrenia experienced a major life event prior to their episode, according to Brown and Birley (1968)?

  50%
• What is the Interactionist approach to schizophrenia?

  The Interactionist approach acknowledges that there are a range of factors (including biological and psychological) which are involved in the development of schizophrenia.
• What is the Diathesis-stress Model?

  The diathesis-stress model states that both a vulnerability to schizophrenia and a stress trigger are necessary to develop the condition.
• According to the Diathesis-stress Model, how do biological and environmental factors interact in the development of schizophrenia?

  Zubin and Spring suggest that a person may be born with a predisposition towards schizophrenia which is then triggered by stress in everyday life, but if they have a supportive environment and/or good coping skills the illness may not develop.
• What did the study by Tienari et al. (2004) find?

  Adopted children from families with schizophrenia had more chance of developing the illness than children from normal families, supporting a genetic link.
• How did the environment affect the development of schizophrenia in the Tienari et al. (2004) study?

  Children from families with schizophrenia were less likely to develop the illness if placed in a "good" family with kind relationships, empathy, security, etc., suggesting the environment plays a part in triggering the illness.
• What did the study by Faris and Dunham (1939) find?

  Faris and Dunham (1939) found a clear pattern of correlation between inner city environments and levels of psychosis.
• What did the study by Pederson and Mortensen (2001) find about the relationship between urban living and psychosis?

  Pederson and Mortensen (2001) found that Scandinavian villages have very low levels of psychosis, but 15 years of living in a city increased the risk.
• According to the Interactionist approach, how do biological and environmental factors interact to influence the development of schizophrenia?

  The Interactionist approach acknowledges that both biological vulnerability and environmental stress triggers are necessary for the development of schizophrenia, and that a supportive environment and good coping skills can prevent the illness from developing even with a biological predisposition.
• How does the Interactionist approach suggest schizophrenia should be treated?

  The Interactionist approach suggests that patients with schizophrenia should receive different treatments tailored to their specific triggers, genes, and environmental factors, as these can vary between individuals.
• What are the key factors in the Diathesis-stress Model of schizophrenia?

  • Vulnerability (diathesis) to schizophrenia
  • Stress triggers that activate the vulnerability
• How do environmental factors influence the development of schizophrenia according to the Interactionist approach?

  • Supportive environments and good coping skills can prevent schizophrenia from developing, even with a biological predisposition
  • Stressful life events and urban living can trigger the onset of schizophrenia in those with a biological vulnerability
• What are the strengths of the Interactionist approach to understanding schizophrenia?

  • Holistic - Identifies that patients have different triggers, genes, etc. so they can receive tailored treatments
  • Accounts for both biological and environmental factors in the development of schizophrenia
  • Explains why concordance rates in twins are not 100% - environmental factors play a role
• How can the Interactionist approach inform the treatment of schizophrenia?

  • Patients can receive different treatments tailored to their specific triggers, genes, and environmental factors
  • Treatment can focus on reducing stress and improving coping skills in addition to medication
  • Interventions can target both biological vulnerabilities and environmental stressors
• What did the study by Brown and Birley (1968) find?

  50% of people who had an acute schizophrenic episode had experienced a major life event in the 3 weeks prior.
• What did the study by Vasos (2012) find?

  The risk of schizophrenia was 2.37 times greater in cities than in the countryside, probably due to stress levels.
• What did the study by Hickling (1999) find?

  The stress of urban living made African-Caribbean immigrants in Britain 8 to 10 times more likely to experience schizophrenia.
• According to the Interactionist approach, how do factors like substance abuse influence the development of schizophrenia?

  Substances like amphetamines, cannabis, and other drugs have been identified as triggers for schizophrenia, as they affect neurotransmitter levels and can interact with a person's biological vulnerability.
• How does the Interactionist approach explain the relationship between childhood abuse and the development of schizophrenia?

  According to Bentall's meta-analysis (2012), stress arising from abuse in childhood increases the risk of developing schizophrenia, suggesting that environmental factors can interact with biological vulnerabilities.
• How does the Interactionist approach explain the relationship between urban living and the development of schizophrenia?

  According to the Interactionist approach, the stressors of urban living, such as life stressors and drug use, can interact with a person's biological vulnerability to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia.
• How does the Interactionist approach explain the role of epigenetics in the development of schizophrenia?

  According to Toyokawa et al. (2011), many aspects of urban living, ranging from life stressors to drug use, can have an effect on human epigenetics, suggesting that the stressors of modern living could cause increased schizophrenia in future generations.
• How does the Interactionist approach explain the finding that concordance rates for schizophrenia in monozygotic twins are not 100%?

  According to the Interactionist approach, the fact that concordance rates are never 100% suggests that environmental factors must also play a role in the development of schizophrenia, even in individuals with the same genetic vulnerability.
• How does the Interactionist approach explain the finding that individuals with schizophrenia are more likely to live in poorer urban environments?

  According to the Interactionist approach, it is more likely that factors associated with living in poorer conditions, such as increased stress, may trigger the onset of schizophrenia, rather than individuals with schizophrenia moving down in social status.
• What are some of the key environmental triggers for schizophrenia identified by the Interactionist approach?

  • Stressful life events (e.g. divorce, bereavement)
  • Urban living and associated stressors
  • Substance abuse (e.g. amphetamines, cannabis)
  • Childhood abuse and trauma
• How does the Interactionist approach explain the role of epigenetics in the development of schizophrenia?

  • The stressors of modern urban living, such as life stressors and drug use, can affect human epigenetics
  • These epigenetic changes could lead to increased risk of schizophrenia in future generations, even in the absence of genetic predisposition
• How can the Interactionist approach inform interventions for schizophrenia?

  • Interventions can target both biological vulnerabilities (e.g. medication) and environmental stressors (e.g. stress reduction, improving coping skills)
  • Treatments can be tailored to the individual's specific triggers, genes, and environmental factors
  • Improving environmental factors like social support and reducing stress may help prevent the onset of schizophrenia in those with a biological predisposition