The psychodynamic approach assumes that, if someone is to experience childhood trauma, - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

The psychodynamic approach assumes that, if someone is to experience childhood trauma, this could be repressed using defence mechanisms.

However, these defence mechanisms can lead to an unconscious conflict which can manifest in adulthood in the form of schizophrenic symptoms.

Explanation

L.O: Describe and evaluate the

Psychodynamic

explanation and treatment of schizophrenia Slide2

According to the psychodynamic approach, family relationships dramatically influence the way a growing child perceives reality.

If trauma carries on into adulthood, then SZ could result. There are several family problems which are thought to contribute to the formation of schizophrenia:Schizophrenogenic MotherDouble-bind Hypothesis

Expressed Emotion

Explanation

Family RelationshipsSlide3

A schizophrenogenic

has actions that are often contradictory – verbally accepting yet behaviourally rejecting. This can set up faulty communication between both mother and child and can lead to the onset of schizophrenia.Schizophrenogenic

MotherSlide4

178

schizophrenic patients and 150 non-schizophrenics had their childhood experiences compared to see whether schizophrenics really did have more difficult childhood relationships.Results:

In the quality of relationships between the parents there was no difference found.

However, there was significant difference in the quality of maternal relationship:

Patient’s mothers who are less likely to be affectionate are more likely to be domineering and overprotective.

Study: Schofield and

Balian

(1959)Slide5

One strength of the psychodynamic approach is that is acknowledges the impact of the early childhood experiences on the adult personality and behaviour. Freud suggested that negative experiences as a child impacted hugely on the adult personality and could lead to mental disorders such as

schizophrenia. This is a strength because it provides

a complex level of insight that other approaches lack and also gives adults a reason for their irrational behaviour that can lead them to realise that the behaviour is not their fault.

Strengths of Psychodynamic ApproachSlide6

One weakness of the psychodynamic approach is that it’s deterministic. This suggests that all thoughts, behaviours and emotions are determined by our childhood experiences and unconscious mental processes.

This is a weakness because it suggests we have no conscious free will over our behaviour.Another weakness of the psychodynamic approach is that it is reductionist. This reduces the main reason for our thoughts, emotions and behaviour down to childhood experiences and unconscious mental

processes. This is a weakness because

it does not take into account the influence of the environment, nor our biology and genetics.

Weaknesses of Psychodynamic ApproachSlide7

Psychodynamic TREATMENT

Based on 3 pointsPatients are unaware of their ................... conflictsThey bring their conflicts into their ................. mindAll symptoms are meaningful and are caused by the history of the patient

The psychoanalyst aims to:Build trust with the patient and learn their history

Replace their destructive consciousness with a more supportive, less destructive one

Once the patient has become healthier the patient will take a more active role in his/her therapySlide8

Evaluation of TREATMENT

Limited justifiability due to the lack of evidence & lack of ability to produce experimental data due to the nature of the theoryAPA: psychoanalysis is only appropriate when combined with drug treatmentAs the treatment is expensive and only moderately effective, long term use is rare

Tarrier, 1990: Can actually have negative impact on

Sz

patients due to over-stimulation

 lead to relapse