Diathesis Stress Model
What does diathesis mean?
Predisposition
Severely disturbed families?
11% developed schizophrenia
How many participants?
171
Mildly disturbed family results?
9% developed schizophrenia
How does the diathesis-stress model explain psychological disorders?
An interaction between biological predisposition to the disorder and environmental stress
What were the 3 categories?
Healthy, mildly disturbed, severely disturbed
How were participants judged?
Interviews and a series of tests
Why may the diathesis stress model explaining schizophrenia through an interaction be helpful?
It explains why schizophrenia develops in late teens and early twenties (stressful period of time)
Healthy family results?
None developed schizophrenia
Who gives supportive evidence?
Tienari et al (1994)
What does the supportive evidence suggest?
Well-adjusted family environment protects children predisposed to schizophrenia
Describe participants.
Women diagnosed as schizophrenic who had a child adopted before the age of 4