The interactionist approach to schizophrenia

The interactionist approach to schizophrenia

• The interactionist approach is an approach that acknowledges that there are biological, pschological and societal factors in the dev of schz
• Bio factors- genetic vulnerability, neurochemical and neurological abnormality
• Psych factors- stress from life events and daily hassles

Explaining the interactionist approach: The diathesis-stress model

• The diathesis-stress model says that both a vulnerability to schz and a stress-trigger are necessary in order to develop the condition
• One or more underlying factors make a person particularly vulnerable to developing schz but the onset of the condition is triggered by stress

• Meehl's model
• Diathesis was entirely genetic, the result of a single schizogene
• Led to the development of a biologically based schizotypic personality, one characteristic of this is sensitivity to stress
• According to Meehl, if a person does not have the schizogene then no amount of stress will lead to schz
• In the carriers of the schizogene, chronic stress through childhood and adolescence could result in the dev of schz

• The modern understanding of Diathesis
• It is now clear that there are many genes that each appear to increase genetic vulnerability slightly
• Psychological trauma is now seen as the diathesis, not the stressor
• Read proposed a neurodevelopmental model in which early trauma alters the developing brain
• The hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal system can become over-active, making the person much more vulnerable to later stress

• The modern understanding of…