explaining sz

• interactionist approach?

  • recognises there are number of factors that interact with each other in development of z
  • considers combined effects of biological/psychological/social factors
• define diathesis?

  • underlying vulnerability person has to disorder
  • eg abnormalities in brain structure & functions/neurotransmitters
• define stress?

  • conditions that trigger development of sz in people with underlying predisposition
  • eg dysfunctional family/losing parent/going university/urban environment
• diathesis stress model?

  • interaction between genetic & environmental factors
  • holisitic explanation
  • family background indicates genetic vulnerability
  • can lay dormant only present in genotype
  • may never be expressed
  • only present if triggered by stressor
• X difficult to know what influence of each factor is?

  • each sz patient is different meaning have different diathesis & stressors
  • difficult to know how factors contribute to development of sz in each person
  • eg one person may be affected more severely by stressor - childhood trauma compared to another person who this doesnt have impact for
  • dont know what factor contributes to causing sz the most
  • not knowing root cause can increase relapse rates/worsen symptoms
• 3 * for interactionist explanation?

  1. evidence from tienari
  2. evidence to support
  3. holistic
• * evidence from tienari 2004?

  • explored genetic vulnerability to sz & its link with parenting style
  • looked at children who has finnish biological mum with sz & been adopted
  • compared to adopted children with no biological mum with sz
  • parenting style of high criticism,high conflict & low empathy from adoptive parent was associated with developing sz in children with biological mum with sz
  • not in children with non sz mother
  • biology & environment influences do interact with each other to cause sz
  • if it was down to environment they would all have sz
• * evidence to support?

  • research shows that smoking cannabis increases likelihood of developing sz in those who have genetic predisposition for sz
  • shows sz is due to combination of biological factors & environmental influences
  • cannabis - stressor can worsen positive symptoms - hallucinations & can reduce cognitive functioning
  • genetics - diathesis
• * holistic?

  • approach claims that our biology causes sz
  • eg hyperdopaminergia suggests sz due to high levels of dopamine in brain supporting nature side
  • supports nurture side as it says if were with family of high ee were likely to have sz
  • claims both factors need to be present to cause sz rather than being by product of just 1 factor
  • takes into accout both nature & nurture side of debate
  • provides more complete explanation
  • more likely to be accurate