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Flashcards in Bio therapies for Sz Deck (21)
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1
Q

What kind of therapy does the biological approach propose for Sz ?

A

Drug therapy and the use of anti-psychotics

2
Q

how can typical anti-psychotics be taken and how long for ?

A

Anti-psychotics can be taken as

  • Tablets
  • Syrup
  • Injection’s for those at risk every 2-4 weeks

May be taken short term or long term

3
Q

What can typical anti-psychotics be divided into ?

A

Typical anti-psychotics

Atypical anti-psychotics

4
Q

What are typical anti-psychotics ?

A

Include Chlorpromazine
Can be taken as a tablet, syrup or injection
Orally administered = daily dose max 1000mg
Dose has declined over past 50 years

5
Q

What does chlorpromazine have a strong association with and why ?

A

Strong association with dopamine.

Because chlorpromazine acts as an antagonist in the dopamine system, reducing the action of neurotransmitters.

6
Q

How do dopamine antagonists work ?

A

Dopamine antagonists;

  • Block dopamine receptors in synapse of brain reducing action of dopamine.
  • At 1st dopamine production is increased when med’s are taken and then reduced.
7
Q

How do typical anti-psychotics reduce symptoms such as hallucinations?

A

The drugs normalise neuro-transmission in key areas of the brain reducing symptoms

8
Q

Why is chlorpromazine often used for Sz patents?

A

Chlorpromazine is often used to calm patients with Sz and other conditions.
This is often done when the patient is in hospital for the 1st time.

9
Q

what form of typical anti-psychotics work the quickest ?

A

Syrup

10
Q

What was aim of a-typical anti-psychotics and give 2 examples of a-typical anti-psychotics

A

Aim: The aim was to produce drugs that were more effective and to minimise side effects.
A-typical anti-psychotic: Clozapine & Recperidone

11
Q

What is the history of Clozapine ?

A

60’s - developed
70’s - trialled
70’s - withdrawn to the deaths of patients who got a blood condition
80’s - discovered to be more effective than some drugs so used only when other treatments have failed.

12
Q

What is the maximum dosage of clozapine and what are patients required to do if they are administered this drug ?

A
Dosage = 300/450mg (cant be injected
Requirements = regular blood tests
13
Q

How does Clozapine work and how does it affect patients ?

A
Work: Clozapine binds to dopamine and acts on serotonin and glutamate receptors. 
Affects: 
improves mood
reduces depression and anxiety 
may improve cognitive functioning
14
Q

What kind of patients is Clozapine normally administered to and why ?

A

suicidal patients

Because clozapine enhances mood and this is important as 30-50% of patients attempt suicide

15
Q

Why was Recperidone produced and how is it administered (include dosage) ?

A

Recperidone was produced as a safer alternative to clozapine.
Administered: Tablet , syrup or injection that lasts 2 weeks.
Dosage: start - 4-8mg and max 12mg

16
Q

How does recperidone work ?

A

Binds more strongly to dopamine receptors and therefore effective in a much smaller dosage

17
Q

What is a strength of typical anti-psychotics and what evidence is there to support this ?

A

-Evidence to support the effectiveness of Chlorpromazine
Thornley et al: compared studies comparing effects of chlorpromazine and controls.
Found:
CH was associated with better overall functioning
Reduced symptom severity
Relapse rate reduced

18
Q

AO3

What is a strength of a-typical anti-psychotics and what evidence is there to support this ?

A

-Evidence supporting effectiveness
Meltzer:
Concluded:
Clozapine is more effective than typical psychotics
30-50% cases where typical antipsychotics have failed

19
Q

AO3

What is a weakness of risperidone and what kind of drug is this ?

A

A-typical antipsychotic
Limitation : Evidence can not exclusively support this drug
Studies comparing riciperidone and clozapine have produced inconclusive drugs.
Potentially, may be that patients react differently to different drugs

20
Q

AO3

Identify 2 limitations of typical anti-psychotics

A

Typical Anti-psychotics
Serious side effects: sleepiness, stiff jaw, weight gain, dizzy
Long term: Neuroleptic maligant syndrome causes dopamine blocking and can result in high temp’s, delirium.

21
Q

AO3

Identify 3 limitations of the use of drug therapy and antipsychotics

A

Limitations of anti-psychotics

  • unclear if antagonists can reduce dopamine activity
  • Believed they’re use to calm patients for staff rather than benefiting patients
  • Problems with evidence: Healy suggested successful trials have repeatedly published data for exaggeration
  • Studies only show ST not LT use difficult to determine