The Diathesis-Stress Model: Assignment Help

What is Diathesis stress model?

The diathesis stress model is a framework for the knowledge of establishment of psychological disorders. As per the general model, every person possesses certain degree of inherent vulnerability for developing a particular disorder. The onset of disorder can be triggered by environmental stress but the intensity of stress needed to trigger a disorder is dependent on the extent to which people is inherently vulnerable. For instance, if a person’s vulnerability to any disorder is huge then the amount of stress required to trigger the development of the disorder will be less. Diathesis stress model is a theory that is developed by the mental as well as physical disorders from a genetic or biological predisposition for that illness with a combination of stressful conditions which play a precipitating or a facilitating role. It is also called diatheses stress hypothesis. The theory is commonly used for describing the pronunciation of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, which are produced due to the interaction of a vulnerable hereditary predisposition, with precipitating events in environment. The theory was introduced as men to describe few causes of schizophrenia.

The model has been reformulated in the past 20 years as the stress vulnerability-protective factors model. By doctor Robert P. Lieberman as well as his colleagues in the field of psychiatric rehabilitation. The model has many benefits for individuals with severe as well as persistent metal illness. The model has stimulated research as well as treatment on the way to mitigate stress and hence reduce the expression of diathesis, by establishing protective factors. The model has resulted in more humane, efficient, effective as well as empowering treatment interventions. Our scholars can guide you in each step of academic paper writing.

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Example of Diathesis stress model

Diathesis stress model is used for explaining the reason why certain people are at more risk for the development of a disorder than the others. For example, a child having a family history of depression is generally more vulnerable to the development of a depressive disorder himself. A kid having a family history of depression or who has been exposed to certain stressor like exclusion or rejection by their friends, would be more likely to create depression than a child with a family history of depression which has an otherwise positive social network of friends. The model has even served as useful in other poor development outcomes.  

The stress model of suicidal behaviour is an example of Diathesis stress model comes into Psychology assignment help. It is on the basis of the observation that stressful events of life are generally recognized as triggers of suicidal behaviour. A range of explanatory models, consisting of those applied by lay individuals, have indeed featured stress as a main determined of suicidal behaviour. Such models show that negative event of life is severe enough can encourage suicidal behaviour even without the existence of people predisposing biological characteristics. 

What does the model propose?

One of the implications of the Diathesis stress model is that more the vulnerability a person has, the less stress is needed for that person for becoming ill. It is very important to take into consideration both the presence of a diathesis as well as an individual’s stress level for determining the degree of risk for the reoccurrence or onset of any illness. For instance, a study proved that among the subjects with a diathesis in the form f a genetic risk, 10% developed depression at low levels of stress but 33% developed depressions at a very high level. For the people without the diathesis, the figures were 10% and 17% respectively.  Other issues of health to which the diathesis stress model has been applied widely consist of substance use, schizophrenia as well a disease of heart.

Empirical support for the application of the Diathesis stress model is robust as well as has warranted preventive interventions which target the people at highest risk for the development of negative outcomes of health. For instance the psychological interventions addresses the way an individual with high vulnerability appraises as well as responds to the live events which are stressful. The Diathesis stress model has given the clinicians as well as researchers a framework in which knowledge about psychological, biological as well as environmental processes can be utilised for decreasing the chances that an illness will reoccur or develop.

Who created the Diathesis stress model?

The concept of diathesis has a long history in the medical terminology. The term diathesis was used in the context of psychiatric since the 1800s. The theories of schizophrenia brought together the concept of stress as well as diathesis and the specific terminology of diathesis stress interaction was created by Meehl, Bleuler as well as Rosenthal in the year 1960.

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What causes Diathesis stress model?

With respect to the Diathesis stress model, diathesis is generally interchangeable with vulnerability. If a person is more vulnerable to mental disorder, it will not take much stress for symptoms to start showing. Following are the factors that cause diathesis:

• Genes or biology
• Cognitive factors
• Trauma or environmental stressors early in life
• Situational factors like staying with parents with mental illness or living in  a low income household.

All of them are not nature in the way that they are genetic. However, these factors seem to remain very present in the life of a person. If an individual is able to move out of a low income household into a more affluent scenario, they might be a little less vulnerable to some conditions.

According to the Diathesis stress model, depressive disorders are caused primarily due to many psychological, biological as well as social factors. The factors interact with each other and are also affected by an individual’s unique sensitiveness. Depression is a very complicated condition which needs to be thought about in an integrated manner. Tjis is known as a holistic approach. Since there is no particular factor that causes depression, it is not reasonable to expect that only one kind of treatment can fix the issue and what works for one individual might not work for another one with respect to treatment.