Interactionist approach

• interactionist approach acknowledges a range of factors that are involved in the development of SZ

  The diathesis stress model highlighted

  SZ is believed to be the result of both an underline vulnerability and environmental triggers, and both are necessary for the onset of SZ
• diathesis stress model

  meehl

  The diastasis vulnerability for SZ is entirely genetic, genes are assumed to cause neurochemical abnormalities that result in an increased risk for SZ

  if there’s no genetic vulnerability, no amount of stress would lead to SZ
• modern understanding of diathesis

  many genes appear to increase genetic vulnerability slightly, there isn’t a single gene

  Psychological trauma that alters developing brain means trauma becomes diathesis rather than stressor
• modern understanding of stres

  anything that risks triggering SZ

  Environmental factors like parenting

  Cannabis interferes with dopamine system
• Treatment

  acknowledges both biological and psychological factors in SZ

  So is associated with combining antipsychotic medication and psychological therapies
• their is evidence supporting the diathesis stress model

  randomly allocated 315 patients to a medication + CBT group, medication group + supportive counselling group, or control group (medication only).

  Participants in the 2 combination groups showed lower symptoms levels than those in the control group, although there was no difference in rates of hospital readmission

  this suggests that there is biological and environmental factors that cause schizophrenia as when CBT and medication were used together, symptom levels were the lowest
• schizophrenia is more commonly diagnosed in city rather than rural areas, this statistic is used to justify the interactionist approach, as it assumes city living is more stressful than rural living, therefore city living act as a stressor

  However, this statistical difference maybe be because schizophrenia is more likely to be diagnosed in cities as they have more access to healthcare. Greater population densities in cities may mean that early symptoms are noticed more so are referred to a doctor
• A strength is childhood experiences impact individuals throughout their life showing environmental factors are involved in SZ

  Maladaptive methods of coping with stress in childhood and throughout development means that the individual fails to develop effective coping skills, which in turn compromises their resilience and increases vulnerability.

  This may make life generally more stressful for the individual and so trigger schizophrenia.

  this highlights the importance of environmental factors in causing the development of schizophrenia