interactionist approach

What is the Diathesis-Stress Model in the context of schizophrenia?

A psychological concept which suggests that schizophrenia results from an interaction between a pre-existing biological or psychological vulnerability (diathesis/Dopamine imbalance) and an environmental trigger (stress/ family dysfunction)

What did Meehl (1962) suggest about the causes of schizophrenia in the original model?

He argued that schizophrenia was caused by a single 'schizogene' which led to a schizotypic personality, triggered into the full disorder only if exposed to an environmental stressor like a 'schizogenic mother'.

In the modern interactionist approach, how is 'diathesis' understood differently from previous models?

Diathesis is now recognized as polygenic, involving many genes (108 genetic loci according to Ripke), and can also include early life trauma that affects neurodevelopmental processes.

In the modern interactionist approach, what factors are considered as 'stress'?

Stress is any factor that risks triggering schizophrenia, including environmental stressors like urban living or substance use, such as cannabis, which can increase the risk of developing the disorder by up to 7 times.

What is the interactionist approach to the treatment of schizophrenia?

Treatment involves combining biological therapies (antipsychotic drugs) with psychological therapies (CBT). Research such as Tarrier (2004) found that combined treatments produce lower symptom levels than medication alone.