Interactionist Approach to Schizophrenia
DIATHESIS-STRESS MODEL
Diathesis - certain things make you more vulnerable to developing schizophrenia and create a
predisposition (or increased likelihood) of developing the disorder. Many would suggest that this
diathesis is biological.
Stress - certain situations, experiences, events, stressors, drugs etc. can trigger or activate this
predisposition and cause the individual to develop schizophrenia, or cause an increase or relapse in
symptoms if the individual is in remission.
EVALUATION
➔ Research support - Walker found that cortisol levels are higher before the onset of
schizophrenia symptoms than during recovery which supports the proposal that raised cortisol
levels are a cause of schizophrenia rather than an effect of it.
➔ Nature and nurture considered - biological predispositions and stressors cause schizophrenia
➔ Issues with cause and effect - it is not clear how environmental, biological, psychological and
social factors interact to cause schizophrenia
INTERACTIONIST TREATMENTS
The best treatment involves a combination of biological and psychological treatments.
Guo et al found that patients who receive a combination of antipsychotics and psychological therapy
have an improved quality of life than those taking antipsychotics alone, these people are also less
likely to relapse.
EVALUATION
➔ Costly - more expensive than single therapies and this needs to be considered in a
cash-strapped NHS.
➔ Lacks effectiveness - some patients mis-interpret the side effects of drug treatment as being
caused by CBT which can increase mistrust
➔ Economic benefits - treatments mean that patients can return to work and pay taxes to the
economy.
DIATHESIS-STRESS MODEL
Diathesis - certain things make you more vulnerable to developing schizophrenia and create a
predisposition (or increased likelihood) of developing the disorder. Many would suggest that this
diathesis is biological.
Stress - certain situations, experiences, events, stressors, drugs etc. can trigger or activate this
predisposition and cause the individual to develop schizophrenia, or cause an increase or relapse in
symptoms if the individual is in remission.
EVALUATION
➔ Research support - Walker found that cortisol levels are higher before the onset of
schizophrenia symptoms than during recovery which supports the proposal that raised cortisol
levels are a cause of schizophrenia rather than an effect of it.
➔ Nature and nurture considered - biological predispositions and stressors cause schizophrenia
➔ Issues with cause and effect - it is not clear how environmental, biological, psychological and
social factors interact to cause schizophrenia
INTERACTIONIST TREATMENTS
The best treatment involves a combination of biological and psychological treatments.
Guo et al found that patients who receive a combination of antipsychotics and psychological therapy
have an improved quality of life than those taking antipsychotics alone, these people are also less
likely to relapse.
EVALUATION
➔ Costly - more expensive than single therapies and this needs to be considered in a
cash-strapped NHS.
➔ Lacks effectiveness - some patients mis-interpret the side effects of drug treatment as being
caused by CBT which can increase mistrust
➔ Economic benefits - treatments mean that patients can return to work and pay taxes to the
economy.
