The Interactionist Approach to Schizophrenia

• What is another name for the Interactionist Approach?

  Biosocial approach
• What factors contribute to the development of schizophrenia (SZ) according to the Interactionist Approach?

  Biological, psychological, and social factors
• What are the biological factors in the development of SZ?

  Genetic vulnerability and neurochemical abnormalities
• What psychological factor is mentioned in the development of SZ?

  Stress
• What social factors are involved in the development of SZ?

  Daily experiences and peer interactions
• What does diathesis mean in the Diathesis-Stress Model?

  Vulnerability
• What does stress refer to in the Diathesis-Stress Model?

  A negative experience
• What is required to develop SZ according to the Diathesis-Stress Model?

  A vulnerability and a trigger
• How does the interaction between vulnerability and trigger relate to the development of SZ?

  Both are needed; individually may not cause SZ
• What was the original belief about diathesis in Meehl’s Model?

  It was entirely genetic
• What is the modern understanding of diathesis according to Meehl?

  It involves multiple genes increasing vulnerability
• What can diathesis also include besides genetic factors?

  Early psychological trauma
• How does child abuse relate to diathesis?

  It affects the HPA system, increasing vulnerability
• What does modern stress include in relation to diathesis-stress?

  Anything that risks triggering SZ
• How does cannabis use affect the risk of SZ?

  It can increase risk up to seven times
• Why does cannabis increase the risk of SZ?

  It interferes with the dopamine system
• What is the treatment approach according to the Interactionist Model?

  • Antipsychotic medication combined with CBT
  • Requires an interactionist model for effectiveness
• Why is it not possible to adopt a purely biological approach when treating SZ?

  It ignores psychological significance in symptoms
• How does the UK approach treatment for SZ compared to the US?

  • UK: Combination of drugs and CBT is standard
  • US: Conflict between psychological and biological models
• What is a strength of the diathesis-stress model according to Tienari et al. (2004)?

  Support from studies on adopted children
• What parenting style was implicated in the development of SZ in Tienari et al.'s study?

  High criticism and low empathy
• What does Tienari et al.'s study demonstrate about genetic vulnerability and family stress?

  Combination increases risk of SZ
• What was the outcome of Tarrier et al.'s (2004) study on treatment groups?

  Combination groups had lower symptom levels
• What was a limitation found in Tarrier et al.'s study regarding hospital readmission?

  No difference in hospital readmission rates
• What is a counterpoint to the diathesis-stress model's oversimplification?

  • Multiple genes increase vulnerability
  • Stress includes various forms, including biological factors
• What do researchers now believe about stress in relation to the diathesis-stress model?

  It can include biological factors
• Who conducted research indicating that stress can include biological factors?

  Houston et al. (2008)