drug treatment for schizophrenia

Question 1

what biological treatment is used to treat schizophrenia?

Answer 1

anti-psychotics

Question 2

what are anti-psychotics?

Answer 2

drugs that prevent symptoms of schizophrenia.

Question 3

what two types of anti-psychotics are there?

Answer 3

A-typical and Typical

Question 4

what are A-typical drugs?

Answer 4

stops both positive and negative symptoms and is newer than typical - brought out in the 90’s

Question 5

what are Typical drugs?

Answer 5

older drugs, only stops positive symptoms came out in the 50’s-60’s

Question 6

what are the side effects of Typical drugs?

Answer 6

• problems with sex life,
• high blood pressure,
• stiffness and shakiness.
• feeling sluggish and slow in your thinking
• problems with breast swelling or tenderness.

Question 7

what are the side effects of A-typical drugs?

Answer 7

• weight gain
• sleepiness and slowness
• interference with your sex life
• increased chance of diabities
• effects blood pressure
• in high doses some can cause parkinsons
• long term use may cause movements of the face and rarely the arms or legs this is known as tardive dyskinesia.

Question 8

what is a example of a Typical drug?

Answer 8

Chlorpromazine - work by binding with receptors and stopping the absorption of dopamine, as increased dopamine causes positive symptoms such as hallucinations.

Question 9

what is an example of a A-typical drug?

Answer 9

clozapine -

Question 10

what is a benefit of using newer drugs such as Clozapine rather than older drugs in terms of side-effects?

Answer 10

it doesn’t affect dopamine which controls movement so their are less side effects such as stiffness and sluggish feeling and tardive dyskenisa.

Question 11

whats the problem with clozapine?

Answer 11

it can effect a persons bone marrow which can lead to a shortage of white cells, which can make people vulnrable to infection.

Question 12

how long does it take for anti-psychotics to take affect?

Answer 12

a few days - a few weeks

Question 13

does everyone’s symptoms go after taking anti-psychotics ?

Answer 13

no, 25% of those on anti-psychotics do not get reduced symptoms and they are known as “treatment-resistant”.

Question 14

is every prescriptions the same for everyone?

Answer 14

no, prescriptions will be best suited to each patient and their medical records will be checked to ensure the drugs are right for them.

Question 15

what is drug therapy based on?

Answer 15

the idea that disorders are due to an imbalance of neurotransmitters, and drugs are used to aim to restore these neurotransmitters back to normal levels.

Question 16

what is the first line of treatment for schizophrenia and why?

Answer 16

drug therapy, as they can help reduce symptoms in patients that would otherwise have prevented them from accessing other psychological therapies for this disorder.

Question 17

what does Clozapine improve?

Answer 17

delusions and hallucinations, also seems to be helpful to those who dont respond well to other medication.

Question 18

why do newer A-typical drugs less likely to produce the side-effected a associated with taking the drug?

Answer 18

there is evidence that suggest they dont bind with receptors so tightly and that they also block 5-HT2A receptors (serotonin r)

Question 19

is Clozapine given to patients initially?

Answer 19

no, it is given after two other anti-psychotics have been tried as it is quite hard to monitor and the side effects can be dangerous, however most people find that overall it gives them a better quality of life.

Question 20

how long may it take before anti-psychotics take effect?

Answer 20

a few days - a few weeks.

Question 21

what do people with schizophrenia often do, to prevent them from getting unwell again?

Answer 21

take anti-psychotics for years even though the symptoms may of gone - if they stop taking the drugs too soon then the symptoms may return.

Question 22

how many people dont take their drugs as reccommended?

Answer 22

at least half of people with schizophrenia

Question 23

what may be the reasons behind people not taking drugs ?

Answer 23

• the side effects
• because they feel as though they are getting better
• in one survey some people said it was because they missed hearing the voices.

Question 24

how many people prescribed do not get better and what is this known as?

Answer 24

25% - these people are known as “treatment-resistant.”

Question 25

how do clinicians know what drug to describe?

Answer 25

• based on the clients medical history
• previous medication they’ve tried
• discussing the benefits and issues with each drugs

Question 26

why can anti-psychotics sometime be known as “chemical straight-jackets” ?

Answer 26

the power lies with the doctor and not the patient which may make them feel disempowered.

• the anti-psychiatry movement would argue that it is wrong that some people should assumed a position in society whereby they are able to control others through medication.
• form of social control.

Question 27

what may be a problem with the effectiveness of anti-psychotics?

Answer 27

only effective in 60% of cases and often patients are left with negative symptoms - they may also gain side effects that cause them to need medication for them as well.

Question 28

what did Emsley (2008) find?

Answer 28

those injected with anti-psychotic risperidone early in disorder had high remission rates and low relapse rates

Question 29

what did Meltzer et al (2004) find?

Answer 29

that haloperidol improves symptoms and some new drugs also show improvement compared to placebo’s.

Question 30

what is a major barrier to treatment?

Answer 30

non-compliance to taking the prescribed set of drugs e.g. in one study only 50% were compliant and in Rosenhan’s 1973 study patients were observed to hide their medication.