Schizophrenia- Treatments and Interactionist approach

Question 1

How do antipsychotic drugs generally work ?

Answer 1

By blocking D2 receptors in the brain which prevents dopamine from attaching to them and therefore reducing dopamine activity

Question 2

Give an example of a typical antipsychotic ?

Answer 2

Chlorpromazine

Question 3

When were typical antipsychotics developed ?

Answer 3

In the 1950s

Question 4

What symptoms do typical antipsychotics tend to treat ?

Answer 4

Positive symptoms

Question 5

What is another use of chlorpromazine ?

Answer 5

It is a sedative so can have calming effects in people with high anxiety

Question 6

What are some side effects of typical antipsychotics ?

Answer 6

• Tardive dyskinesia
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)

Question 7

What is tardive dyskinesia ?

Answer 7

A loss of control of muscles in the body

Question 8

What is neuroleptic malignant syndrome ?

Answer 8

Causes serious delirium and can even induce comas, is fatal

Question 9

Give an example of an atypical antipsychotic ?

Answer 9

Clozapine

Question 10

When were atypical antipsychotics developed ?

Answer 10

In the 1970s

Question 11

What was the idea behind developing atypical antipsychotics ?

Answer 11

To be effective but with fewer side effects

Question 12

What symptoms do atypical antipsychotics tend to treat ?

Answer 12

Positive and some negative symptoms

Question 13

What does clozapine bind to ?

Answer 13

Dopamine receptors but also acts on glutamate and serotonin receptors

Question 14

What is another use of atypical antipsychotics ?

Answer 14

They improve mood and cognitive functioning and can be used to treat patients who are at a high risk of suicide

Question 15

What is a side effect of atypical antipsychotics ?

Answer 15

Agranulocytosis

Question 16

What is agranulocytosis ?

Answer 16

A blood condition that effects WBC count

Question 17

What is risperidone ?

Answer 17

A newly developed atypical antipsychotic

Question 18

Why does rispiridone have less serious side effects ?

Answer 18

As it is effective in much smaller doses than other drugs

Question 19

Why does development of antipsychotics have benefits for the economy ?

Answer 19

As by keeping SZ symptoms under control it means there is a smaller risk of relapse and is also a lot cheaper than providing intense care in institutions

Question 20

What is reality testing ?

Answer 20

Challenging irrational, delusional patterns of thinking with evidence

Question 21

What are some strengths of CBT ?

Answer 21

• There is evidence that it is effective (Jauhar et al)
• It is a safe treatment without side effects

Question 22

What are some weaknesses of CBT ?

Answer 22

• It is not appropriate for all patients
• Costly and time consuming
• It does not treat the root cause of SZ symptoms so is unlikely to be effective alone

Question 23

What is family therapy ?

Answer 23

A therapy including families as well as individual patients that aims to improve communication

Question 24

What are some strategies used in family therapy ?

Answer 24

• Try to reduce levels of negative high EE
• Educating family on how it may effect patient
• Developing shared coping strategies
• Helping family members balance demands of caring and pursuing own interests

Question 25

What are some strengths of family therapy ?

Answer 25

• Evidence that it is effective (McFarlane meta analysis)
• Does not only help SZ relative but also benefits families

Question 26

What are some weaknesses of family therapy ?

Answer 26

• Family may not commit to weekly sessions
• Family may not be willing to make positive changes

Question 27

What are token economies based on ?

Answer 27

The idea that symptoms of SZ can be treated by applying operant conditioning

Question 28

What are the tokens an example of ?

Answer 28

They act as secondary reinforcers so provide no reward themselves

Question 29

Why is the use of token economies now in decline ?

Answer 29

As it is quite patronising for adult patients and is questionable how well they prepare patients for the real world

Question 30

What is the interactionist approach to SZ ?

Answer 30

It acknowledges that a range of biological, psychological and societal factors interact with each other to trigger the development of SZ

Question 31

What is the diathesis stress model with links to SZ ?

Answer 31

The idea that some people have a vulnerability to SZ which is triggered by stressors. Both are needed for the development of SZ

Question 32

What treatment does the interactionist approach suggest ?

Answer 32

A combination of antipsychotics and CBT