6.1.3

Question 1

Biochemical Treatments (Schizophrenia)

Answer 1

Antipsychotic drugs can be given orally or transdermally. Regular check-ups are necessary to monitor dosages, symptoms, and side effects.

Question 2

Order of Drug Prescription (Schizophrenia)

Answer 2

Drugs are usually prescribed based on evidence-based protocols, and treatment-resistant patients may receive mood stabilizers or ECT.

Question 3

Typical Antipsychotic Drugs

Answer 3

Typical antipsychotics like chlorpromazine block dopamine receptors without activating them, reducing positive symptoms for about 60% of people.

Question 4

Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs

Answer 4

Atypical antipsychotics like clozapine block both dopamine and serotonin receptors, treating positive and negative symptoms but can lead to agranulocytosis.

Question 5

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Answer 5

ECT is an addition to medication. It uses electrical pulses to trigger controlled seizures, helping gene expression and neural connectivity.

Question 6

ECT Procedure

Answer 6

ECT involves 70-150 V electrical pulses delivered to the brain, causing seizures. Patients are given muscle relaxants and general anesthesia.

Question 7

ECT Treatment Duration

Answer 7

Patients typically undergo 2-3 sessions per week for one month, with maintenance sessions for up to a year.

Question 8

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Schizophrenia

Answer 8

CBT focuses on forming supportive therapeutic alliances and discussing the links between events, thoughts, sensations, and feelings.

Question 9

CBT Techniques for Schizophrenia

Answer 9

CBT uses symptom diaries, challenges delusions, thought linkage, and paced activity scheduling to reduce stress and fatigue.

Question 10

CBT and Psychoeducation

Answer 10

CBT includes psychoeducation for both the person with schizophrenia and their family, informing them about the stress-schizophrenia link.

Question 11

Sensky et al. (2000) Study Aim

Answer 11

The study aimed to compare the efficacy of one-to-one CBT and befriending interventions for people with schizophrenia.

Question 12

Sensky et al. (2000) Methodology

Answer 12

Adults with schizophrenia received CBT or befriending for 19 sessions over 9 months. Symptoms were assessed before and after treatment.

Question 13

Sensky et al. (2000) Results

Answer 13

Both CBT and befriending groups showed symptom reduction, but only the CBT group showed sustained improvement after 9 months.

Question 14

Sensky et al. (2000) Conclusion

Answer 14

In the long term, CBT was more effective than befriending for reducing schizophrenia symptoms.

Question 15

Sensky et al. (2000) Validity

Answer 15

Including a befriending control group ensured improvements in the CBT group were not just due to social interaction.

Question 16

Sensky et al. (2000) Generalizability

Answer 16

The study sample included clients from five clinical services across the UK, making it more generalizable but may not apply to all populations.

Question 17

Biochemical Evidence for Antipsychotics

Answer 17

94% of antipsychotics in a meta-analysis of 56 RCTs showed lower relapse rates than placebos.

Question 18

Antipsychotic Drug Applications

Answer 18

Antipsychotic drugs help reduce hospitalizations and enable people to live in the community, but side effects like dizziness and weight gain may lead to non-compliance.

Question 19

ECT Evidence and Applications

Answer 19

50% of patients receiving clozapine and ECT showed a reduction in symptoms of 40% or more. Rapid improvement is seen in some after just one session.

Question 20

ECT Validity and Ethics

Answer 20

Sham ECT studies show no significant difference between experimental and control groups. Ethical concerns arise, especially regarding unmodified ECT delivery.

Question 21

CBT Ethical Considerations

Answer 21

CBT empowers clients by involving them actively in their recovery, unlike passive treatments like drugs or ECT.

Question 22

CBT Applications

Answer 22

CBT’s effectiveness relies on the therapeutic alliance and homework, but patients lacking commitment or organizational skills may benefit less.

Question 23

Supporting Evidence for CBT

Answer 23

Sensky et al. (2000) supports CBT as an effective treatment for schizophrenia, especially in long-term symptom reduction.

Question 24

Biochemical Treatments Side Effects

Answer 24

Common side effects of antipsychotic drugs include dizziness, nausea, and excessive weight gain, which can lead to non-compliance.

Question 25

Biochemical Treatments for Schizophrenia

Answer 25

Antipsychotics reduce positive symptoms in many cases, but negative symptoms often remain untreated.

Question 26

Side Effects of Atypical Antipsychotics

Answer 26

Atypical antipsychotics, such as clozapine, can lead to agranulocytosis, a severe condition affecting the white blood cells.

Question 27

Biochemical Evidence – Antipsychotic Effectiveness

Answer 27

22% of antipsychotics performed no better than placebos in clinical trials.

Question 28

Biochemical Evidence – Meta-analysis

Answer 28

Meta-analysis of antipsychotic drugs shows that a majority reduce relapse rates in comparison to placebos.

Question 29

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Evidence

Answer 29

Studies show significant symptom reduction in 50% of cases with ECT, particularly in combination with clozapine.

Question 30

Applications of ECT

Answer 30

ECT is used as a rapid intervention for people with schizophrenia who do not respond to medication alone.

Question 31

ECT Ethics – Safeguards

Answer 31

ECT without muscle relaxants or anaesthesia (unmodified) is considered unethical due to potential harm.

Question 32

CBT Cost and Time Considerations

Answer 32

CBT requires more time and money than drug treatments due to the need for multiple sessions.

Question 33

Idiographic versus Nomothetic Approach

Answer 33

Meta-analyses use a nomothetic approach, allowing generalizations across large samples, while idiographic studies explore individual experiences.

Question 34

Cultural Differences in ECT

Answer 34

In some cultures, like China, ECT is more commonly used, with more than 50% of people with schizophrenia receiving it, but it may be seen as controversial in other cultures.

Question 35

Schizophrenia and Culture in China

Answer 35

In high power distance cultures like China, clients may exaggerate the efficacy of ECT due to unequal relationships with healthcare providers.

Question 36

Psychological Treatments for Schizophrenia

Answer 36

Psychological treatments like CBT provide active involvement in recovery, offering an alternative to the more passive drug or ECT treatments.

Question 37

Psychological Treatments and Side Effects

Answer 37

Psychological treatments have no physical side effects, unlike drugs and ECT, which can lead to physical harm.

Question 38

CBT for Schizophrenia – Long-term Effects

Answer 38

CBT has shown long-term benefits, such as sustained symptom reduction, which may not be seen in other forms of treatment like befriending.

Question 39

Biological Treatments – Efficacy vs. Side Effects

Answer 39

While biological treatments like antipsychotics can be effective in reducing symptoms, side effects can lead to lower adherence and treatment failure.

Question 40

Cultural Variations in Schizophrenia Treatment

Answer 40

Cultural perspectives on treatment methods like ECT and CBT can affect their acceptance and effectiveness.