LS4 - Biological Therapies For SZ Flashcards
Antipsychotic Drugs
The most common treatment for SZ, patients are given them on either a long or short-term basis depending on the severity of the symptoms.
2 Types Of Antipsychotic
Typical Antipsychotics
Atypical Antipsychotics
Typical Psychotics
Reduce the effects of dopamine hence reducing SZ symptoms, they bind to dopamine but don’t stimulate their receptors.
Chlorpromazine (Typical)
Is used to calm patients with SZ but also other conditions, it’s maximum dosage is 1000mg but the common dosage is 400-800mg.
Dopamine Antagonists
Most antipsychotic drugs are antagonists as they bind to dopamine receptors but don’t stimulate them.
Atypical Antipsychotics
Used to improve the effectiveness of typical ASs but also minimise their side effects. They bind to dopamine receptors but then rapidly dissociate to allow normal dopamine transmission
Clozapine (Atypical)
Developed in 1970s but not produced because patients died from a blood condition after taking it, in the 1980s it was more effective, however patients still have to have regular blood tests to make sure they have healthy blood. The dosage is 300-450mg. It binds to dopamine but also acts on serotonin to help reduce depression and anxiety and improve cognitive functioning.
Risperidone (Atypical)
Developed in the 1990s to reduce the side effects of clozapine, it can be taken in any form, and the dosage is 4-8mg. It binds to dopamine, but in a better way reducing the side affects.
Drug Therapy Strengths
Research Evidence For Typical Antipsychotics
Research Evidence For Atypical Antipsychotics
Research Evidence For Low Relapse Rates After Drug Therapy
Drug Therapy Weaknesses
Serious Side effects
Evidence Questioning Effectiveness
Ethical Issues
Research Evidence For Typical Antipsychotics (+)
Thorny Et Al compared chlorpromazine to a placebo, and chlorpromazine consistently reduced symptoms and relapse rates, especially when compared to the placebo.
Research Evidence For Atypical Antipsychotics (+)
Meltzer found Clozapine to be more affective than typical drugs, it was able to help in 30-50% of cases where typical drugs failed.
Research Evidence For Low Relapse Rates After Drug Therapy (+)
Antipsychotic Drug Relapse Rate - 27%
Placebo Drug Relapse Rate - 64%
Within 12 Months
Serious Side Effects (-)
Typical Drug Sideffects: Dizziness, Agitation, Sleepiness, Weight Gain, and NMS which can lead to high temperature/coma/death. Although atypical have less, they still have some and clozapine requires regular blood checks.
Evidence Questioning Effectiveness (-)
Successful drug trials have had their data published on multiple occasions, exaggerating their effectiveness, also because antipsychotics can calm mans down they’re seen as effective, which hides away from actually reducing symptoms.
