Interactionist Approach

• The Interactionist Approach


  Acknowledges that there are biological, psychological and social factors in the development of schizophrenia.

  The Diathesis-Stress model:

  • Schizophrenia is a result of biological and environmental influences
  • Both a genetic vulnerability and stress-trigger is necessary to develop the condition
• Meehl's Model


  The original model said that schizophrenia was the result of one 'schizogene', that without cannot lead to schizophrenia. In carriers of the gene stress in childhood can lead to the condition.
• Modern Diathesis


  Ripke found 108 genetic variations that increase genetic vulnerability, so theres no single 'schizogene'. Modern views range to factors beyond genetic, including psychological trauma.
• Modern Stress


  Anything that risks triggering schizophrenia. Recent research concerns cannabis use, as it increases the risk of schizophrenia by up to 7 times, because it interferes with the dopamine system.
• Treatment


  Combining antipsychotic medication with psychological therapies, normally CBT. Medication without psychological treatment is more common in the US than the UK.
• Eval : Strength


  Tienari et al found that adoptees were more likely to develop schizophrenia if they had the genetic vulnerability and disturbed parenting style. Shows direct support for diathesis-stress model.
• Eval : Strength


  Tarrier et al randomly allocated 315 patients to a medication+CBT group, meditation and counselling group, or control group. The participants in the combined groups showed lower symptom levels than the control group.
• Eval : Weakness


  It remains unclear how the combined factors cause schizophrenia, as they are not fully understood. The fact that ambiguity remains suggests that this approach is too vague and incomplete.